Colonel State Patrol Trooper in cruiser struck at crash site

By means of Brenner Kauffman

Source The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

A Colorado State Patrol trooper was struck and injured Wednesday afternoon in a crash on Colorado Highway 115 south of Colorado Springs.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado State Patrol, the state trooper, identified as Trooper Tyler Atkins, was responding to an earlier crash near the intersection of Highway 115 and Little Turkey Creek Road around 3:44 p.m., when his patrol vehicle was parked. hit by a driver. The officer was in the vehicle when it was hit.

A photo shared by the State Patrol from the crash scene shows a patrol vehicle with significant rear-end damage.

State Patrol said Trooper Atkins was flown to a nearby hospital for treatment but has since been released. According to officials, the officer is currently recovering at home.

The other driver, who state police say is suspected of driving under the influence, was taken by ambulance to a hospital. No other injuries were reported.

Highway 115 was closed in both directions while the crash was investigated by the Vehicle Crimes Unit. The Department of Transportation marked the highway’s reopening as of 6:11 p.m

The name of the other driver has not been released. State Patrol said Wednesday evening that no charges had been filed pending the crash investigation.

The crash occurred on the same day as the memorial parade for a gold police officer who was struck and killed in the line of duty on November 6. Colorado State Patrol said this was the second time one of their patrol vehicles was hit by a driver this month.

___

Visit The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colorado) at www.gazette.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.