Colorado State Patrol Trooper Injured in Crash With Alleged Impaired Driver
What to Know
- The crash occurred at approximately 3:14 p.m. on Highway 172 at La Plata County Road 311.
- The blue Dodge sedan failed to stop at a stop sign, striking the patrol vehicle and causing a chain reaction.
- The driver of the sedan, a 50-year-old male from Durango, was arrested on suspicion of DUI at the scene.
LA PLATA COUNTY, Colorado — A Colorado State Patrol trooper was injured in a three-vehicle crash on April 18 after an alleged impaired driver failed to stop at a stop sign.
The crash occurred at approximately 3:14 p.m. on Highway 172 at the intersection of La Plata County Road 311, according to KOAT-TV.
Authorities said the trooper was traveling through the intersection when a blue Dodge sedan struck the left-rear side of her patrol vehicle after failing to stop.
Following the initial impact, the patrol car collided with a white Dodge truck before leaving the roadway and traveling off the shoulder of Highway 172.
Investigators identified the driver of the blue Dodge sedan as a 50-year-old male from Durango, Colorado. He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
According to officials, neither the driver of the blue Dodge sedan nor the driver of the white Dodge truck reported injuries. Both vehicles were occupied only by their drivers.
The trooper sustained minor injuries and was transported by personal vehicle to a local medical facility. She was treated and later released.
The Colorado State Patrol said the incident underscores the ongoing risks impaired drivers pose to law enforcement personnel operating on public roadways. In a statement, the agency reiterated that impaired driving is not tolerated on Colorado roadways.