The Washington State Patrol released body-worn video from when one of its troopers placed his car into the path of a wrong-way driver and was struck head-on earlier this week. The driver was arrested, and the trooper only sustained minor injuries.
Just before 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 20, calls to 911 reported a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on I-90 near Lake Sammamish. The state patrol said the vehicle continued traveling in the wrong direction for about four miles as troopers responded to intercept it.
The state troopers used a rolling slowdown technique in which they used lights and sirens to protect other motorists and get the wrong-way driver’s attention.
However, the wrong-way driver did not stop and eventually struck one of the troopers head-on.
“He’s going to hit me,” the trooper is heard telling the dispatcher just before the impact.
The trooper was transported to an area hospital, where he was treated and released.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and was checked out at a hospital before being booked into the King County Jail.
The Washington State Patrol released a video of when a trooper was struck head-on by a wrong-way driver.Washington State Patrol screenshot
