Suspected DUI Driver in Custody After Colorado State Trooper Struck While on Hwy 115 Crash Scene

Description: The Colorado State Patrol Released The Following Statement After a Trooper was Struck on Hwy 115 in El Paso County while Investigating a Crash on November 13, 2024...

Suspected DUI Driver in Custody After Colorado State Trooper Struck While on Hwy 115 Crash Scene

***Update***

(El Paso County, COLO) This afternoon at approximately 3:44 p.m., Colorado State Patrol Trooper Tyler Atkins, was investigating a crash on Highway 115 in El Paso County.  While investigating the crash, Trooper Atkins was in his fully marked patrol vehicle when it was struck from behind.

Trooper Atkins was transported to an area hospital where he was treated for his injuries sustained in the crash.  Trooper Atkins has been released from the hospital and is currently recovering at home.

(El Paso County, COLO) This afternoon at approximately 3:44 p.m., the Colorado State Patrol was working on a crash on Highway 115 in El Paso County, when a patrol vehicle was struck at the intersection of Highway 115 and Little Turkey Creek Rd. The Trooper was in his patrol vehicle at the time of the crash. 

The Trooper was transported by air to an area hospital for treatment of possible serious injuries, and is expected to recover. The other driver remained on scene, and was transported to an area hospital by ambulance. The other driver is suspected of driving under the influence. There were no other injuries at the scene.

The Colorado State Patrol Vehicular Crimes Unit will investigate the crash, and Highway 115 near Little Turkey Creek Rd is closed due to the crash investigation.

"What else do we need to say to convince drivers to pay attention?" stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol "If the steering wheel is in your hands, you must be sober, your eyes must be up, and it is your responsibility to keep everyone else on the road safe. There are no warnings for failing to move over, there are no warnings for impaired driving, just long-lasting consequences. Do your job as a driver and focus on the task at hand. Our families, our lives, and your safety depend on it"

This year the Colorado State Patrol has now had 11 vehicles struck. This is the second struck this month.

When driving in the state of Colorado, you must drive with due care. Colorado Law requires you to move to the next lane if one is available, or if you are able to do so.  If there is no lane available, or if you are not able to do so you are required to slow down.  For a road with a speed limit of forty-five miles per hour or more, you are required to slow to twenty miles per hour less than the speed limit. If the speed limit is less than forty-five miles per hour, you are required to slow twenty-five miles per hour or less.

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