ATHENS — A trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol was struck head on just before midnight Saturday on U.S. 50 west of Hooper Road in Athens Township in Athens County.

Trooper Todd Wallingford was in a marked Highway Patrol cruiser going west on Route 50 when he was struck by Christopher Wayne Barker, 47, Athens, who was driving east in the westbound lanes on Route 50, the patrol said. Wallingford was in a 2021 Dodge Charger and Barker was driving a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix, the patrol said.

The Grand Prix continued and struck a 2019 Ford Fiesta driven by Xander Michael Knore, 19, Minford, Ohio, who also was going west on Route 50, the patrol said.

Barker was taken to OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital by Athens County EMS with serious non-life-threatening injuries, the patrol said. Barker is suspected of being impaired at the time of the crash, the patrol said.

The accident, which happened at 11:49 p.m. Saturday, remains under investigation with charges pending, the patrol said. Safety belts were in use by all drivers, the patrol said.

Assisting troopers were the Athens Police Department, Athens County Fire

Department, Richland Area Fire Department, Athens County EMS and the Ohio Department of Transportation.