Three Colorado state troopers are recovering from injuries suffered in two separate accidents over the weekend as they worked to keep roads safe.
Two troopers injured Sunday evening in a traffic accident on Interstate 225 near South Parker Road were identified Monday as Ron Greasley, a 14-year veteran, and Jason Burger, who has been with the patrol for one year.
The troopers were standing on the shoulder of the highway investigating an accident when the driver of a 1998 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle “lost control on the icy roadway” and hit a trooper’s patrol car, which then clipped the two officers.
Greasley was taken by ambulance to Aurora South Hospital with serious injuries that are not life-threatening, the State Patrol said Monday.
Burger suffered moderate injuries and also was taken to the hospital, the patrol said.
The State Patrol identified the driver of the Explorer as Edilberto Garcia-Castro, 30, of Aurora.
Garcia-Castro faces possible charges of careless driving causing injury, exceeding a safe speed for conditions, and driving without a valid license.
He and his two passengers were wearing seat belts and were not injured, the patrol said.
The Explorer also hit a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder that was involved in the accident the troopers were investigating. The driver of the Nissan and his passenger were not injured.
About 8 p.m. on Friday, Trooper Randy White was hit by a GMC Sierra pickup as he worked a traffic accident near Fruita on the Western Slope.
White, who was wearing a reflective vest, was investigating a crash on eastbound U.S. 6 when he was struck by the pickup driven by Tracy Conklin of Grand Junction. White was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction with serious injuries.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
