(ITALY, TX) – An Italy police officer has been injured after being hit by a vehicle on I-35E in Ellis County.

The DPS reports the accident happened at 6:30 this morning, two miles north of the Highway 34 exit.  Italy Police say the officer was removing debris off the roadway when he was struck by a pick-up.  A spokesperson for the department said as the pick-up was trying to stop to avoid the debris, it got sideways and struck the officer on the shoulder of the freeway.  The officer was taken to the hospital.  The name of the officer and his condition have not been released, although Italy Police did say the officer’s injuries were not life threatening.  No one in the pick-up was injured.

The interstate was shut down during the investigation but has since reopened.