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Copyright 2005 News Channel 5

October 11, 2005

HEADLINE:
Poker Run Remembers Fallen State Trooper

BODY:
Tennessee State Trooper Todd Larkins had pulled over a driver when he was struck and killed by a tractor trailer on Interstate 40 back in July.

Now, family and friends of Larkins are on a mission to prevent this from happening again by bringing attention to the state’s “Move Over” Law.

This law requires vehicles to move over a lane when an officer is on the side of the interstate.

Larkins’ family says if the truck driver would have obeyed the law it could have saved his life.

On Saturday, bikers rode in a poker run to raise money in honor of Trooper Larkins.

The money raised through entrance fees will go towards raising awareness of the state's “Move Over” Law.

Benefit organizers don't have a total yet, but they say they've already raised several thousand dollars.

The money will go towards trying to prevent another tragic death.

“We’re working on bumper stickers…we’re wanting to do billboards. We don’t want another family to have to go through this,” said Larkins wife Alicia.

She has been working on this campaign since shortly after her husband's death.

The bikers wore shirts and stickers with officer Larkins badge number.

As a part of the poker run, the bikers stopped at five locations picking up a card at each one. At the end of the day, they got to check and see who had the best and worst hand.

It was a day of fun, remembrance and working to get the word out about the law.

“How much this means to me, my husband and the other officers is just amazing,” said Larkins.

The law requires a driver to move over when there's an officer, emergency worker or highway worker alongside the interstate.

At the benefit, they gave away some of those move over bumper stickers. It's just one way to remind drivers of the “Move Over" Law.

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