A Colorado State Patrol trooper was injured Friday evening after an SUV crashed into the trooper's parked cruiser during a traffic stop on eastbound Interstate 70 near Watkins. The trooper and two people from the first vehicle were taken to a nearby hospital, and officials said the trooper's injuries were not life-threatening. The SUV's driver was taken into custody on suspicion of multiple offenses, according to authorities.
According to 9News, the collision happened when an SUV traveling at a high rate of speed struck the trooper's vehicle while it was parked on the shoulder of I-70. A 47-year-old woman from Byers was taken into custody on suspicion of several charges, including driving under the influence, the outlet reported. The two people in the originally stopped car, a 44-year-old woman and a teenage girl from Aurora, were treated for minor injuries and later released.
Holiday Enforcement And Road Safety
The crash unfolded during the Fourth of July enforcement period, when the Colorado Department of Transportation and law enforcement partners were running extra DUI patrols statewide. CDOT's "The Heat Is On" campaign, which runs July 1 through 6, backs saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints aimed at curbing impaired driving, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Officials have been urging drivers to set up sober rides as holiday travel ramps up.
Charges And Investigation
Per 9News and Colorado State Patrol statements, the Byers woman was taken into custody on suspicion of multiple offenses, and the driver who crashed into the trooper's vehicle was released with a summons. Troopers cited the driver who had originally been stopped for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, violating restrictions on an instruction permit, and having no proof of insurance. State Patrol officials said the trooper was treated at a hospital and released, and the injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Why It Matters
Roadside traffic stops are among the most dangerous situations for troopers, a risk underscored after Master Trooper William Moden was struck and killed while working an I-70 crash scene in 2019, as reported in Hoodline coverage of how trooper William Moden is still honored near Deer Trail. Agencies have pursued policy and equipment changes since that loss, yet authorities continue to plead with drivers to slow down and move over for stopped emergency vehicles. Simple precautions like easing off the gas, giving space, and choosing sober rides during enforcement periods remain some of the most effective ways to prevent similar crashes.
Colorado State Patrol says the investigation into Friday's collision is ongoing and is asking anyone with video or information about the crash to contact investigators. Troopers are expected to forward the case to prosecutors for charging decisions as more details are gathered.
