By Kevin Cole and Grace Lewis
Omaha World-Herald, Neb.
OMAHA, Neb. — A Nebraska State Patrol trooper suffered injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening Monday night when her cruiser was struck by a truck on Interstate 80 in Omaha.
The crash occurred the same day as the State Patrol called for motorists to pay attention to the road after two motorists collided with parked cruisers in a span of 10 days. The troopers in those incidents escaped injury.
State Patrol and Nebraska Department of Transportation officials implored the public again on Tuesday to help end this “alarming trend” by driving carefully.
“Lives are depending on you paying attention while driving,” Col. Bryan Waugh , superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, said Tuesday.
Troopers were near South 50th Street about 8:30 p.m. to direct traffic as Omaha police officers investigated a single-vehicle crash that was blocking the shoulder of the roadway and one lane of traffic.
The injured trooper, whose name has not been released, was inside the cruiser with its emergency lights activated when it was struck by a box truck. The trooper was taken to the Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy for treatment. The State Patrol asked the Omaha Police Department to investigate the crash.
Waugh said investigators believe speed and weather may have been factors in Monday’s crash, but investigations into all three recent crashes involving State Patrol cruisers are still ongoing.
The first crash happened on Interstate 80 between Roscoe and Ogallala June 12 . Troopers were directing traffic around a broken-down semitrailer truck, which blocked a lane of travel on I-80 . A westbound semi failed to slow down, striking a trooper’s parked cruiser.
The second crash happened Sunday in Paxton County about 6:50 a.m. , according to a statement Monday from the State Patrol. The driver of a Hyundai Santa Fe hit a cruiser while troopers and Keith County deputies performed traffic control in response to a single vehicle crash on I-80 .
In both cases, the troopers were not in the vehicle and were able to run to avoid the collision.
In February, trooper Kyle McAcy, 31, died after responding with other troopers to an I-80 crash between Ashland and Greenwood when he was struck by a snowplow.
Nebraska Department of Transportation Director Vicki Kramer said 2024 saw a record high for fatalities on roadways.
“It’s unacceptable, and it’s easy to stop,” she said.
While State Patrol and Department of Transportation officials did not confirm whether cell phone use was believed to be a factor, they said both departments would support legislation next session to limit phone use and distracted driving.
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