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Trooper Kris Chapman

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Injured trooper is ‘making progress’

By DAN KEGLEY/Staff

In a week of three community events raising money for his medical expenses, Virginia State Trooper Kris Chapman continues to improve as he undergoes “rigorous” physical therapy, his mother, Joanie Russell, said Friday.
“He’s making progress,” Russell said. “We’re anxious to get the next bridge crossed,” getting Chapman home to continue recovery that could take months, she said.
Chapman is at Health South in Kingsport, Russell said, following a long stay in intensive care and then a private room at Bristol Regional Medical Center where he was first treated for devastating injuries sustained Feb. 1. That’s when police said Barry Dean Marshall II, of Abingdon, crashed his Ford F-150 pickup into Chapman’s cruiser while he was working a traffic stop.
Police said Chapman had stopped another driver for a traffic violation and was parked on the right shoulder of I-81’s southbound lanes. Chapman had issued a traffic violation and was sitting in his car when Marshall rammed into the rear of his cruiser before Chapman had secured his safety belt.
Police charged Marshall with driving under the influence. Police arrested him a second time and charged him early Feb. 3 with public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance, according to his arrest warrants. Marshall was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Traci Tashona Peake, 21, of Radford, who was charged with driving under the influence, police said.
On Feb. 14, Smyth County General District Court Judge Sage B. Johnson increased Marshall’s bond from $13,000 to $25,000.
Since the crash, the community and VSP have joined in putting on a series of fund-raisers to raise money to help cover Chapman’s expenses. A well-attended barbeque dinner was held Feb. 16 at Marion Life Saving Crew Building. The Abingdon Pizza Hut held a benefit buffet on March 3. Family Ford in Marion is hosting a benefit car wash today from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and tomorrow, a gospel singing will be held at 3 p.m. at Chilhowie High School.
“The community has been wonderful,” Russell said. “I can’t say enough about the generosity. The state police have been incredible. That’s a real brotherhood. We want to thank everyone for their concern, their prayers and their support.”
Chapman and his family face a long road toward recovery, or as Russell put it, “a long journey,” and “we’re climbing a mountain.” She hopes the community will continue in its spiritual support.
“I would like for people to keep lifting him up in prayer,” Russell said. “We can get through it. He’s tough.”