Two Truck Drivers Being Thanked For Helping UHP Trooper On I-15

LAYTON, Utah — A Utah Highway Patrol trooper became emotional after two truck drivers stopped to help him while he was wrestling with a man on the side of the interstate.

I-15 through Davis County is often busy during the daytime, however, even with bad traffic, most people get to where they’re going without any problems. Every now and then though, someone needs help.

That’s why Justin Law decided to become a UHP trooper.

“I love my job,” said Trooper Law. “I want to serve those and help protect those who need protection. I have that passion.”

He said he still has that passion, even after what happened this past Thursday.

UHP received several calls about a man walking on the side of I-15 southbound near Layton Parkway.

Trooper Law was dispatched to that location to see if the man needed help.

“I pulled over into the median and got out of my car and motioned to the guy and verbally gave him commands to come back to me, and he just blew me off and kept walking,” said Trooper Law. “It’s a big safety issue, and so whenever there are pedestrians on the road, we try to get them off as quick as we can.”

At some point, the man turned around, walked behind Law’s patrol car, and then started across the interstate.

Trooper Law said he was worried the man was going to get hit by a passing car.

“I ran after him. I was able to get him to the ground and was struggling behind my patrol car in traffic,” said Trooper Law.

The two men were on the ground in the HOV lane when the driver of an 18-wheeler saw what was happening, pulled up to them, and stopped his truck in the HOV lane to protect the men from being hit.

Here is dashcam video from the first truck driver who stopped to help the @UTHighwayPatrol trooper. @KSL5TV at 5 and 10. #ksltv #utah #uhp pic.twitter.com/wGjrsppJkh

— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) July 11, 2020

That driver, Ray Snyder, then jumped out of his truck to help the trooper.

The moment was captured on Snyder’s dashcam video inside the cab of his truck.

“When I saw his truck there blocking the HOV lane, I was happy. Very happy,” said Trooper Law with a smile.

A second trucker also stopped to the side of the three men and jumped out of his big rig to help.

“I am very appreciative for both truck drivers. I get emotional, but knowing that they were willing to stop — block the HOV lane for me so that other cars wouldn’t come by and hit me — it was nice to see the support,” saw Trooper Law.

The man walking on the interstate was brought to the Davis County Jail to be checked out to see what kind of help he may need.

KSL hasn’t been able to reach the second truck driver, but the first truck driver, Snyder, spoke with reporter Alex Cabrero on the phone.

Snyder didn’t want to be officially interviewed because he said he was just doing the right thing and didn’t need any credit. He also said he’s happy he was able to help the trooper, and wasn’t sure what was going on when he ran to them.

For Trooper Law, it’s a reminder that although the job seems to be as tough as ever, there are those who appreciate what he does.

“It makes me happy that there are those people out there,” said Trooper Law. “There are those truck drivers that when they see someone in need like me, rolling around on the interstate in a dangerous situation, that they’re willing to stop and even put their lives in a little bit of risk, to help out.”