Vass police officer stops wrong-way driver with crash

VASS, N.C.

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It happened around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on U.S. Highway 1 near the intersection of Main Street, just south of Vass.

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Investigators said the Vass Police Department got a call about a careless and reckless driver headed northbound in the southbound lanes and Officer Andrew Schofield Jr. spotted the car.

"I seen the vehicle in my lane and I put on my lights, and at that time I come to a stop and I see the vehicle was not going to stop, so I made a split second decision to stay in the lane and stop her from hitting someone else, or someone getting killed last night," Schofield said.

Schofield turned on his blue lights and used his patrol car to block the road, but the wrong-way driver plowed into him head on.

"I just held on to the steering wheel. That's all you can do is hold on," Schofield said.

Officer Schofield was taken to Moore Regional Hospital and was treated and released. He is being praised by many for putting his own life on the line to save others.

"That's what we're out here to do, I don't think I'm a hero. I'm just doing my job," Schofield said.

Troopers said the wrong-way driver - 63-year-old Donna Lee Kramer - was taken by helicopter to UNC Chapel Hill.

Officials said Kramer may have suffered some kind of medical problem before the crash.

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