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‘Move over': Video shows Colo. trooper nearly killed by driver

Dashcam video captured a serious crash where the trooper had been standing just seconds earlier

Colorado State Patrol crash dashcam

Colorado State Patrol

By Kieran Nicholson
The Denver Post

ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. — Dash-camera footage of a dangerous crash on Interstate 25 was released Wednesday by the Colorado State Patrol in hope of raising awareness about safe driving and Colorado’s “Move Over” law.

The crash happened at about 11:25 on Tuesday near 58th Avenue in Adams County when CSP Master Trooper Travis Hood, on a motorcycle, stopped a driver for speeding, according to a news release. The driver of 2010 Kia sedan pulled onto the left shoulder of the highway and Hood made contact, telling the driver why he had been stopped. Hood headed back to his motorcycle and the driver of a 2008 Dodge minivan slammed into the rear side of the KIA.

The KIA driver, a 34-year-old Denver man, suffered “moderate” injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The Dodge driver, a 20-year-old Avondale woman, suffered “minor” injuries and was medically checked at the scene, the state patrol said. Two passengers in the Dodge suffered “moderate” injuries. Hood narrowly escaped being hit.

“Every day law enforcement officers and other roadway workers put themselves at risk in an effort to improve safety on our roadways,” said Colonel Matthew Packard, Chief of the CSP, in the release. “Sadly incidents like these happen with incredible frequency and we are fortunate that a bigger tragedy didn’t play out yesterday on I-25. We are sharing this footage because it underscores the responsibility of drivers to move over and pay attention behind the wheel. There is no excuse for driving past any stopped vehicle at this rate of speed.”

Colorado’s “Move Over” law says that driver’s approaching a stationary emergency, tow, or maintenance vehicle that has lights flashing must move over by at least one lane, or if unable to move over, reduce speed by at least 20 MPH under the speed limit.

The Dodge driver on Tuesday was issued a citation for careless driving causing injury. A speeding citation for the driver of the KIA was voided.

[RELATED: 5 ways police departments can improve officer traffic safety]

https://twitter.com/CSP_News/status/1494075430025846784

(c)2022 The Denver Post

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