Man in critical condition after hitting UHP cruiser

A pickup truck driver was flown to Salt Lake City in critical condition after he hit a Utah Highway Patrol car and rolled several times on the interstate, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 16, 2013 | Photo courtesy of the Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News

IRON COUNTY – A man was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition Monday after hitting a Utah Highway Patrol cruiser and rolling his truck on Interstate 15.

Around 6:20 p.m., UHP Sgt. Ryan Bauer was parked on the median side of northbound I-15 tending to a prior accident around mile post 72, UHP Sgt. Todd Royce said in a statement. While waiting for a wrecker to load one of the cars involved in the accident, Bauer’s cruiser was hit in the rear-passenger-side by a pickup.

The truck continued along the side of the cruiser and then hit the tilt-bed of the wrecker which caused it to roll several times across the roadway. It finally came to rest off the road and in the median.

The pickup’s driver was critically injured and suffered severe head trauma. Life Flight was called in and flew the man to a hospital in Salt Lake City. Though Bauer was inside his cruiser when the pickup struck it, he was not harmed.

The crash blocked both lanes of northbound I-15 for a time and created heavy traffic build-up. Both lanes were reopen once the scene was cleared.

The UHP believe alcohol to be a contributing factor to the crash.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.

A pickup truck driver was flown to Salt Lake City in critical condition after he hit a Utah Highway Patrol car and rolled several times on the interstate, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 16, 2013 | Photo courtesy of the Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News
A pickup truck driver was flown to Salt Lake City in critical condition after he hit a Utah Highway Patrol car and rolled several times on the interstate, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 16, 2013 | Photo courtesy of the Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News

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6 Comments

  • Retired Trooper December 17, 2013 at 9:54 am

    People use to ask me if I thought there was a bullet with my name on it. I would tell them no,8 But that there was a bumper with my name on it. It missed me for 25 years, though it came close several times.

  • My Evil Twin December 17, 2013 at 12:25 pm

    I’ve had several friends who died in car accidents when their cruisers were hit by drunks. One was hit by a drunk driving a semi truck loaded with hay. (Driver was an illegal out of Mexico, and did not even have a driver’s license. . .) And like Retired Trooper, I’ve had my share of close calls.

  • White Bear December 17, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    I’m a retired cop from St. Louis, now living in Garfield County. I can’t tell you how many close calls I had on the Interstates while on the job. I worried more about getting hit by a car than about getting shot. We happened to be caught in this traffic tie up last night. I’m so glad the Trooper is okay.

  • Kenneth trotter December 24, 2013 at 11:32 am

    Id like to know why there was no flares ahead of the incident to notify people there was more than just a routine stop there could have been more precations taken and ive reapeadidly heard from several people before the incident that that more precation could have avoided even if the driver was under the influence

    • My Evil Twin December 24, 2013 at 2:39 pm

      Right on Kenny! Good job of making an idiot of yourself. If someone ignores vehicles on the side of the road, particularly one with the emergency lights on, what makes you think they will pay any attention to flares? People who drive with their heads up their rear ends don’t pay attention to much of anything.

  • Christian September 28, 2014 at 5:51 pm

    Wow. Ryan Bauer is a great guy and a born cop. Calm, tough, kind, and thoughtful. He’s been through worse before. He must also wonder if “a bumper has his name on it” after this. I know it’s not the first time this has happened. Sgt.Bauer, Ryan…I hope you are happy, healthy, and well. I’m happy there are good cops out there like you who keep those lonely highways safe. Take care, and I hope I see you again! Your friend, Chris.

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