SPANISH FORK, Utah, Feb. 11, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) – A Utah Highway Patrol trooper is in serious condition after his patrol car was hit on I-15 in Spanish Fork Thursday morning.
UHP spokesman Sgt. Todd Royce said the crash happened near mile post 257 northbound at approximately 8:15 a.m.
Royce said the trooper, Blake Bradford, had stopped a driver on the right side of the road for a traffic violation. While Bradford was stopped on the right shoulder of the road, a single vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed came from behind and lost control, spinning into the concrete wall. The impact rotated the vehicle 180 degrees and into the rear of the patrol vehicle.
The patrol vehicle was then pushed into the initial car that had been stopped. Bradford sustained injuries to his back, neck, and arm. He was transported by ground to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in serious but stable condition. His injuries are not life threatening.
Nobody else was injured in the accident.
Spanish Fork Police Department will be investigating the incident.
Two lanes of I-15 northbound were closed while troopers cleared the scene, but traffic is now running normally.
Why the heck don’t people go in the other lane when they see cop lightd ahead. Maybe we should have the outside lane for exit only use. Maybe cops will stop getting hurt from drivers that obviously aren’t paying attention to what’s ahead of them. I can’t believe the number of cops each year that die or are seriously injured. Come on Utah drivers drive responsible or get off the road. There should be 0 injured cops from this senseless act. Or start charging the drivers who hit cops. My prayers are with Officer Bradford’s family and thank you for all you do.
Cops are a serious threat to Utah drivers, they need a lot more training. They need more intelligent officers as well. I’m surprised this doesn’t happen more often.