Cop And Other Man Have Lucky Escape As They Are Narrowly Missed By Careering Pickup Truck On Roadside
This is the dramatic moment a pickup truck smashes into the back of another vehicle, narrowly missing a cop and another man waiting near the central reservation.
The footage, dated to the morning of Wednesday, 1st December was released by the Idaho State Police later the same day.
The incident, according to the force, was part of a six-car collision on the eastbound Interstate 84 at S. Ten Mile Road in Ada County in the US state of Idaho.
It resulted in the cop in the high-vis vest injuring himself as he fell backwards over the concrete barrier to avoid being hit by the wayward vehicle.
The trooper who ended up injured was assisting a stranded Toyota saloon driver, seen squatting in the footage, with a flat tyre. The trooper’s patrol car was parked behind the Toyota.
According to the Idaho State Police’s press release: “The preliminary investigation indicates one vehicle began to slow prior to passing the patrol car. That vehicle was hit by another, causing a chain reaction of four eastbound vehicles. Two involved pickups were pushed left, sideswiping the parked patrol car and hitting the rear of the Toyota.”
Passing drivers called the emergency services and the injured trooper was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and swiftly discharged.
The other man also reported minor injuries, but did not apparently need to be taken to hospital.
The lanes on the eastbound side of the road were blocked for around 90 minutes following the incident as emergency responders assisted the injured and cleared the scene of debris.
As of 4pm on 1st November, the incident remained under investigation by the Idaho State Police.
According to state law, drivers are required to “slow down, change lanes, or both when passing police vehicles, emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and highway incident response vehicles stopped on the roadway”.
According to Sgt. Brandalyn Crapo of the Idaho State Police, as quoted in the press release: “Traffic stops are very high risk. They’re necessary to keep people safe on the road and to help those stranded, but we need motorists’ help so we can all go home at night.
“Slowing down and moving over for emergency vehicles and workers isn’t just a courtesy, it’s the law. Drivers need to be alert to emergency lights and vehicles and always alert to what’s happening around them. That keeps all of us safe.
