A Utah Highway Patrol trooper is in serious condition after he was struck by a car on Interstate 80 while investigating a semi-truck accident near Lamb’s Canyon on Wednesday.
According to Utah Highway Patrol Corporal Todd Johnson, Sergeant Chris Dunn was at the scene of an accident involving a semi-truck that was rear-ended by a cargo van on eastbound I-80 near Lamb’s Canyon.
The driver of the cargo van was taken by medical helicopter to a hospital in Salt Lake City, according to Johnson, and I-80 eastbound was temporarily closed. The driver of the cargo van was reported to be in stable condition as of Friday.
"We had all but the right hand lane open an hour later and a UHP trooper was standing on the left hand side of his car near the driver’s door investigating the accident when he was struck by a vehicle," he said.
Dunn was taken by Life Flight to the University of Utah Medical Center where doctors reattached four of Dunn’s severed fingers, Johnson said.
"He is still in the hospital but he is doing well and he is talking and in a good mood," Johnson said on Friday. "Doctors are going to look at his arm again today and see what they can do to make sure he can use it again. He may be in the hospital for several more days and it will be a while until they know the extent of the damage."
The accident is still under investigation and Johnson said the Unified Police Department is examining whether to charge the driver who struck Dunn.
