A vehicle struck and injured a Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper while on a traffic stop Wednesday northbound on Interstate 5 near South 272nd Street, just south of Kent.
Trooper Greg Ulrich was contacting a driver of a car that he had stopped for a traffic violation when another vehicle, which was traveling from 272nd Street to northbound I-5, hit the back side of his body, according to a State Patrol media release.
Ulrich sustained injuries to his leg and back and was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He was conscious and alert during the entire episode. Ulrich, a 25-year-veteran of the WSP, is assigned to the District 2 (King County) motorcycle unit.
The driver, a 28-year-old woman, was observed by a drug recognition expert and found not to be impaired. Troopers are still investigating but believe that driver inattention was a factor in the incident.
Between 2007 and 2014, 212 WSP vehicles have been struck while conducting traffic stops or providing motorist assistance. Multiple troopers and citizens have been injured in collisions over the last seven years, as a result of vehicles either striking the trooper or a parked emergency vehicle.
According to the Move Over Law, RCW 46.61.212, drivers approaching an emergency zone are required to either move over to another lane in the same direction, if it is safe to do so, or if a driver is unable to move over safely, proceed with caution and reduce the speed of their vehicle. Emergency vehicles include police, fire, medical, tow trucks and vehicles providing roadside assistance, making use of hazard lights.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call or contact Detective Russell Haake at russ.haake@wsp.wa.gov or 425-401-7717.
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