ELLIS, Kan. — A Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) trooper was struck by an 18-wheeler along Interstate 70 Tuesday while conducting a safety inspection on another rig.
According to a KHP Facebook post, the trooper, identified only by his last name of Summers, was not seriously injured.
The post states that Summers was standing “at/in the (driver’s) door of the truck he was inspecting when this happened. Thankfully he was not seriously injured, this could have easily been much worse!”
Kansas law requires drivers to move over for a stationary emergency vehicle on a multi lane highway.
“We are out every day trying our best to make sure Kansas roads are safer for everyone to travel on, please give us room to do this!” the Facebook post states.
Summers’ trooper vehicle, a Dodge Charger, was severely damaged and pushed underneath the tractor-trailer he was inspecting. The door of the tractor was forced forward and destroyed.
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Roadside inspections should never be performed except where the shoulder is wide enough to do it safely. This should be the responsibility of the inspector. There will always be times when people are passing trucks as they are trying to get over.
Why was the officer on the drivers side of the rig? I’ve never seen an officer approach a rig on the drivers side. They always use the passenger side just for this very reason.
They should never be a roadside Inspection on the side of the highway it should be on an offramp or in a rest area they talk about safety but then they put their selves and the driver in an unsafe situation by doing it on the roadside
It’s on the inspector, because a lot of time you can’t move over, lot of 4 wheelers don’t give a damn . All they care about is driving and texting
Glad the trooper is OK, but roadside inspections are stupid. Puts everyone at risk. If inspections are so important, than do them at weigh stations or inspection pits along highways for this purpose. This is why I drive at night as much as possible to avoid cops and heavy day time traffic.
Well it the Kansas Highway Patrol’s own fault for being so stupid. A few years back I was pulled over on Hwy 50 out side Garden City Kansas where the shoulder is very narrow for a roadside inspection there was the truck stop a half mile away I offered to pull in to it so he could safely inspect my new truck but he refused. When they refuse to choose a safe area to inspect a truck it’s not my place to feel sorry to feel sorry for his stupidity.
I have to agree with you Mr. Bowers. Roadside imspections are dangerous for the driver and the public. Many times the police will tell you to do tthis or do that and don’t argue or you will be arrested. Another commenter stated that he does most of his driving at night. That’s all and well for some folks but not all. Roadside inspections need to be outlawed. Same as speed limiters.
The State should be held responsible for the damages and loss of revenue to the truck that was negligently stopped by this trooper. This would put an end to this dangerous practice.
Glad to see the ICC Bumper did its job. Stopped the car from totally going under the trailer. Another trailer saved from extensive damage.
From the pictures it seems like like they both waa over past the rumble strips and the truck that hit them was over the line, when they was struck. So most of the comments seems are pissing contest, because it doesn’t matter whether officer or the laws are wrong two people could’ve died that day and alot of us have been in that same situation either been pulled over or couldn’t move over, but didn’t hit the person on the shoulder.
How hard is it to move over or slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle on the side of the road. I don’t like roadside inspections either, but the article doesn’t go into detail why the trooper chose this particular vehicle. I see a lot of shotgun comments aimed at 4-wheelers, the officer, and the state, but nothing at truck drivers refusing to move over or allowing other drivers to move over. A professional driver takes responsibility for his own actions and does not pass on blame for failing to do so. Had this been a medical emergency, a breakdown situation envolving a mechanic or tow truck driver, would you be blaming them? Or would you expect them to wait on an off ramp or for a wider spot on the road to render aid? Think about it.