Three Colorado State Troopers, in two separate accidents, are recovering from injuries suffered over the weekend as they worked to keep roads safe.
Two troopers injured Sunday evening in a traffic accident on I-225 near Parker Road were identified today 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 a previous accident when the driver of a 1998 Ford Explorer “lost control on the icy roadway” and hit a trooper’s patrol car, which clipped the two troopers.
Greasley was taken by ambulance to Aurora South Hospital with serious injuries that are not life threatening, the state patrol said today in a media release.
Burger suffered “moderate” injuries and was also 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 traffic charges of careless driving causing injury, exceeding a safe speed for conditions, and driving without a valid license, the state patrol said.
He was buckled-up in the SUV and was not injured, the patrol said. Two passengers in the SUV were also buckled-in and not injured.
The Explorer also hit a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder that was involved in the initial accident the troopers were investigating. The driver of the Nissan and his passenger were not injured.
At about 8 p.m. on Friday Trooper Randy White was hit by a GMC Sierra pickup truck 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 a GMC Sierra pickup driven by Tracy Conklin of Grand Junction. White was taken to Saint Mary’s Hospital with serious injuries.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
