A New York State Police trooper was seriously injured during the early morning hours of Sept. 26 when her patrol vehicle was struck forcefully from behind while she was sitting in it. The driver of the SUV that struck the trooper’s vehicle and his 19-year-old female passenger were also injured in the crash. Initial reports do not indicate why the driver failed to avoid the stationary police vehicle or whether or not he was fatigued or impaired at the time.
Waiting for a tow truck
The accident took place on the northbound lanes of Interstate 190 near the Peace Bridge at approximately 5:30 a.m. According to a NYSP report, the trooper had pulled over to offer assistance to the driver of a rented box truck that had broken down. The trooper’s cruiser was parked on the shoulder behind the box truck with its emergency lights activated when it was struck by the SUV.
EMTs dispatched to the scene
Photographs of the crash scene show the police vehicle damaged almost beyond recognition. It was struck with enough force to propel it into the back of the box truck. A portion of I-190 northbound was closed temporarily to allow emergency workers to tend to the injured trooper and the two occupants of the SUV. They were all transported to the Erie County Medical Center. The trooper has since been released.
Whiplash injuries
Collisions like this one often cause whiplash injuries that are not always immediately apparent to paramedics or emergency room doctors. This is why personal injury attorneys with experience in this area may refer motor vehicle accident victims to specialists when they have been hurt in such a crash. Medical experts could help attorneys to better understand the challenges their clients face and how much their health care treatment is likely to cost, which may help them to determine appropriate damages in car and truck accident lawsuits.