Adams County – Two Colorado State Patrol troopers, helping a driver who had lost part of a load from a flatbed trailer, were hit by a pickup truck today in Adams County.
The incident happened at about 4:40 p.m. on eastbound I-76 near 96th Avenue, said Trooper Gilbert Mares, a patrol spokesman.
One trooper was in critical condition and the other in serious condition, Mares said.
The names of the troopers were not released.
The two troopers were assisting the driver of a 1998 Dodge pickup and trailer who had lost one of two plastic farm chemical tanks.
The Dodge pickup and trailer were off the interstate and in a center median, said Master Trooper Ron Watkins, a patrol spokesman.
The troopers had stopped to help the driver when they were hit by a green Ford F-150 pickup truck that had drifted off the eastbound lanes.
The trooper with critical injuries and was flown by helicopter to Denver Health Medical Center, Watkins said. The trooper who suffered serious injuries was taken to Denver Health by ambulance.
The driver of the Dodge truck was not hit by the Ford truck. The driver of the Ford F-150 was not injured.
The highway eastbound has been closed.
The incident is under investigation.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
