WSP Vehicles Hit by Drunks

Troopers of the Washington State Patrol are proud to wear the agency's badge on their chests. But they are starting to feel like they have bull's-eyes on their backs.
In 2008, there are 25 troopers have had their vehicles hit by impaired drivers. That compares to only eleven such cases in 2007.

"We are exceptionally fortunate that none of these incidents has ended in tragedy for a trooper and their family," said WSP Chief John R. Batiste. "And while we might be angry at the drunks' behavior, we don't want them to get hurt either."

About half of the incidents occurred as troopers were parked beside the road with violators or handling other collisions. In one recent case, a trooper's vehicle was knocked into a car that had already been in a collision.

"These are all completely preventable events," Batiste said. "How drunk do you have to be to run into a marked police car with its lights flashing?" In one recent incident, a trooper and trooper-cadet were injured by an allegedly impaired driver just south of downtown Seattle. (See WSP News Release http://www.wsp.wa.gov/information/releases/mr121408.pdf.)

In other cases, troopers have been hit while simply stopped at red lights. Eight were hit by drivers so impaired that when they were pulled over, they couldn't get their cars in "Park" and they rolled back into the police car!

The State Patrol had no explanation for the increase. The agency has not changed its training or procedures for how troopers park when contacting violators or investigating collisions.
Washington law requires drivers to move over if possible and slow down when they see emergency vehicles beside the road.

Contributed by: WSP