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 Thursday in Adams County.
The incident happened about 4:40 p.m. on eastbound I-76 near East 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.
They were assisting Terence Rice of Erie, the driver of a 1998 Dodge pickup with trailer. One of two plastic chemical tanks had fallen off the trailer.
The Dodge and trailer were off the interstate and in the center median, said Master Trooper Ron Watkins, another patrol spokesman.
The troopers had stopped to help the driver when they were hit by a green Ford F-150 pickup that drifted off the eastbound lanes.
The trooper with critical injuries 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 Ford narrowly missed the driver of the Dodge truck.
“I don’t know if the Ford hit the trailer or the troopers first, but according to the driver, the Ford missed him by 2 feet,” Mares said.
The driver of the Ford F-150 was not identified Thursday night. He was not injured.
The North Metro Technical Investigation Team will take over from the State Patrol because of possible conflicts of interest.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
