Two Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Division vehicles were recently struck by motor vehicles while parked along the interstate due to bad weather, high vehicle speed and drivers not moving over, one treated at the hospital for injuries.
On December 23, 2021, at approximately 8:45 a.m, a Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Division Trooper was investigating
a weather-related crash on Interstate 80 near mile marker 209 in Humboldt County approximately 35 miles east of Winnemucca when his vehicle was struck by a pickup truck.
The patrol vehicle (Ford F150 truck) was parked on the road’s shoulder with emergency lights on when it was struck by a pickup truck, the driver reportedly lost control of the pickup truck while traveling too fast for the icy conditions.
“Fortunately, the Trooper was away from his vehicle at the time and the driver of the pickup was not injured,” said Nevada State Police North Command East Public Information Officer Lieutenant Jeff Howell in a press release.
Another trooper vehicle was struck on December 27, 2021 at approximately 7:35 p.m. when a trooper was investigating several weather-related crashes near I80 near mile 226 in Lander County, approximately five miles west of Battle Mountain.
The trooper was inside his patrol vehicle (Ford Explorer SUV) while it was parked on the shoulder with its emergency lights on when a commercial motor vehicle was reportedly driving too fast for the snowy conditions and failed to slow down or move over into the adjacent lane, ultimately crossing over the white fog line and side-swiping the patrol vehicle, causing major damage.
The trooper sustained injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released later than evening
“Both crashes were preventable had the drivers reduced their vehicle speeds, and in the second crash, had the driver moved over,” said Howell. “The Nevada Highway Patrol would like to remind everyone that moving over and decreasing speeds is not only the safe and courteous thing to do, but also the law.”
Nevada Revised Statutes (484B.607, 484B.600) highlights the duties of drivers upon approaching emergency vehicles with flashing lights, stating that drivers must drive at a speed that is reasonable for the conditions regardless of posted speed limit and move over to the opposite lane when emergency vehicles are alongside the road.
In 2017, the move over law (NRS 484B.607) expanded to include the Nevada Department of Transportation vehicles (including Freeway Service Patrol), construction vehicles and tow trucks stopped on the side of the road with flashing amber or non-flashing blue lights activated.
All 50 states have enacted “Move Over” laws to protect first responders, emergency workers and other personne, working alongside our nation’s highways.
According to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute’s Fatality Report for 2021, 28 law enforcement officers nationwide were struck and killed by vehicles.
