Colo. State Patrol Trooper Injured when Cruiser Struck at Crash Site

By Brennen Kauffman

Source The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

A Colorado State Patrol trooper was struck and injured Wednesday afternoon while responding to a crash on Colorado Highway 115 south of Colorado Springs.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado State Patrol, the state trooper, identified as Trooper Tyler Atkins, was working on a previous accident near the intersection of Highway 115 and Little Turkey Creek Road around 3:44 p.m. when his patrol vehicle was struck by a driver. The trooper was inside the vehicle when it was hit.

A photo shared by the state patrol from the crash scene show a patrol vehicle with significant rear end damage.

State Patrol said Trooper Atkins was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment but has since been released. The trooper is currently at home recovering, according to officials.

The other driver, who State Patrol said is suspected of driving under the influence, was taken to a hospital by ambulance. No other injuries were reported.

Highway 115 was closed in both directions while the crash was investigated by the Vehicular Crimes Unit. The Department of Transportation marked the highway reopened as of 6:11 p.m.

The name of the other driver have not been released. State Patrol said Wednesday night no charges had been filed pending the crash investigation.

The crash was the same day as the memorial parade for a Golden Police Officer who was struck and killed while on duty Nov. 6. Colorado State Patrol said this was the second time one of their patrol vehicles has been hit by a driver this month.

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