ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. — A Colorado State Patrol sergeant was taken to a hospital Saturday afternoon after a vehicle crashed into the patrol car he was driving.
CSP says the incident was reported shortly before 2 p.m. It happened on southbound Interstate 25 near East 58th Avenue in far southwest Adams County.
According to the agency, the sergeant was rear-ended while he was pulling over to the left shoulder to assist a stopped driver.
When his car was rear-ended, the sergeant hit his head. Both the sergeant and the driver of the vehicle that rear-ended him were taken to the hospital.
CSP says no one was seriously injured.
The sergeant involved has not been named. However, according to CSP, he is a 15-year veteran of the agency.
“Sergeant’s got a pretty bad bump on the head. He’s got a sore shoulder, so he’s going to be taking a few days off. But he’ll be OK. He’s a tough cookie,” said Master Sgt. Donald Enloe.
The crash marks the 75th time in the past five years that a squad car or trooper on foot has been hit by another vehicle.
“I’m just numb to patrol cars getting smashed,” said Enloe. “All you can think about is: ‘Who is it? And how are they?'”
Enloe says the 22-year-old woman involved in Saturday’s crash may have been suffering a medical episode. At this point, she has not been cited.
He says drivers need to be aware of the state’s move-over law, which requires drivers to move a full lane over or slow down substantially when they encounter flashing lights.
“Slow down and keep your eyes open. You never know where that officer, or that tow operator or that utility worker is going to be,” Enloe said.
Two southbound lanes of I-25 were shut down following the crash. They have since reopened.