A Utah Highway Patrol trooper became pinned under a vehicle he was trying to help Monday afternoon.
The trooper had responded to a Ford sedan that hydroplaned around 3 p.m. on I-15 near Cedar City before crashing into cable barriers alongside the freeway, according to The Deseret News.
The doors of the disabled car were jammed shot and the trooper was talking to the driver through the vehicle's window when it was hit by a BMW. The impact pushed the Ford sedan on top of the trooper.
"He was standing along the median side of the car against the cable barrier, waiting for the fire truck to show up, talking to them through the window, when the second vehicle hydroplaned, lost control, went into the cable barrier right behind them," Lt. Steve Esplin told the newspaper. "It went into the back of the first vehicle, knocking that vehicle into the trooper, and that vehicle ended up on top of the trooper."
Cedar City fire crews arrived seconds later to find the car on top of the trooper. The Jaws of Life were used to lift the car up and slide the trooper out.
Officials say the trooper was out in minutes and transported to Valley View Medical Center with serious injuries.
Esplin said the trooper suffered several broken ribs but didn't have any other broken bones and is expected to make a full recovery.
The drivers of the Ford and the BMW were not injured.
The Cedar City Police Department is investigating both crashes, which were caused by heavy rain.
