UHP Trooper Injured After Vehicle Veers Off I-15, Slams Into Patrol Car

RIVERDALE, Utah – A trooper with the Utah Highway Patrol was treated for minor injuries after a passenger vehicle drifted onto the shoulder and struck the squad car on Interstate 15.

The crash happened around 6:30 a.m. Friday in northbound lanes near milepost 340 in Riverdale.

Officials said Trooper Brandon Mortensen was sitting in his marked patrol car while conducting speed enforcement.

While Mortensen was parked, on oncoming Honda Civic drifted out of its lane, hitting the rear of the patrol car. The impact forced the patrol car off the shoulder and into the embankment. The vehicle suffered considerable damage.

50 additional @UTHighwayPatrol officers were out on #NYE to catch impaired drivers.

It wasn’t hard for one officer to find a drunk driver… They crashed into him. He’s okay though! pic.twitter.com/QEt1t5nzrk

— Morgan Wolfe (@MorganWolfeKSL) January 2, 2021

The trooper was transported to the hospital to be treated for what officials called minor injuries. He was later released.

Investigators from the Weber County Sheriff’s Office and Roy Police Department were called out to determine the exact cause of the crash.

Officials said the male driver of the Civic was under suspicion for driving under the influence.

UHP officials said troopers took 37 suspected impaired drivers off the road across Utah over the New Year’s holiday.

We had a trooper struck his vehicle this morning. Please don’t drive after you have been drinking. https://t.co/hq4jOvcBit pic.twitter.com/VEfIvM4W8C

— Utah Highway Patrol (@UTHighwayPatrol) January 1, 2021