Injured officer released from hospital after crash

UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 13/11/2024 8:10 PM

(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) – CSP has identified the trooper injured in a crash on Highway 115 on Wednesday and provided an update on his condition.

According to CSP, Trooper Tyler Atkins was investigating a previous crash on Highway 115 in El Paso County when he was struck by another driver while sitting in his patrol car.

CSP said Atkins was transported to the hospital and has since been released to recover at home.

Hwy 115 reopens after injured soldier’s crash

UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 11/13/2024 7:38 PM

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, Highway 115 has reopened at Little Turkey Creek Road.

ORIGINAL STORY: Highway 115 closed, soldier injured in crash

WEDNESDAY 11/13/2024 5:40 PM

A Colorado State Patrol (CSP) trooper was seriously injured after being struck on Highway 115 southwest of Colorado Springs.

According to CSP, a trooper was responding to an earlier crash on Hwy 115 around 3:44 p.m. when his patrol car was struck at the intersection of Hwy 115 and Little Turkey Creek Road. The officer was in the car when it was hit.

CSP said the soldier was transported to hospital for treatment of possible serious injuries, although he is expected to recover. The other driver remained at the scene and was also taken to hospital by ambulance. There were no other injuries, CSP said.

The CSP Vehicular Crimes Unit will investigate the crash, and Hwy 115 near Little Turkey Creek Road is closed for the crash investigation.

“What else do we need to say to convince drivers to pay attention?” urged Col. Matthew C. Packard, head of CSP. “When you take the wheel, you have to be level-headed, your eyes up and it is your responsibility to keep everyone else safe on the road. There are no warnings for not switching, there are no warnings for bad driving, just long-term consequences.”

Colorado law requires drivers approaching police on the shoulder to move into the next lane if one is available, or if this is not possible, drivers must slow down.

So far this year, CSP says 11 of its patrol cars have been hit, with this accident being the second this month.

“Do your job as a driver and concentrate on the task at hand,” Packard said. “Our families, our lives and your safety depend on it.”

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