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PacWestGS
04-14-2006, 04:31 AM
Washington State Trooper (Motor-Officer) injured while writing speeding ticket to motorist who is hit by uncontrolled delivery van.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Trooper_Hit.html?source=rss

Whole story for those that linky doesn't work:

Motorcycle trooper hit by truck; he's banged up but OK

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PUYALLUP, Wash. -- A motorcycle trooper was injured Thursday when he was struck by a truck on westbound State Route 512 near this Pierce County city.

Trooper Dan Hefton, 41, a 13-year State Patrol veteran, was treated at a local hospital and released. He was "pretty banged up," though not as seriously injured as was thought initially, and will be taking some time off to recover, Trooper J.J. Gundermann said.

The accident occurred after Hefton had stopped Jessica K. Sattler, 28, of Puyallup, for speeding, Gundermann said. As the trooper stood at her passenger-side door, the driver of a 10-ton van lost control of his vehicle, striking Hefton's motorcycle, Sattler's car and injuring Hefton, according to a State Patrol news release.

The trooper was taken to Tacoma General Hospital for treatment of his injuries, which Gundermann declined to describe, citing privacy laws. Sattler and a 4-year-old girl in her Kia Sedona suffered minor injuries and were treated at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup and released.

Investigators believe that John Drew Ledford, 25, of Mineral, had been driving the box van and that Sarah Anne Jackson, 44, of Tacoma, was a passenger in the front seat, the release said.

Before the van reached Hefton, it passed another trooper on a motorcycle, who was pulling into traffic.


It appeared that Ledford - who has a suspended driver's license - tried to switch places with Jackson in case they were pulled over, and lost control of the van, the release said.

Troopers found marijuana and paraphernalia in the van but do not believe Ledford was impaired. He was arrested and booked into the Pierce County Jail for investigation of reckless driving, possession of marijuana/paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license - and on an outstanding warrant, the nature of which was not disclosed.


ATGATT is always a good thing... :nod

They wear gear similar to a Roadcrafter and Nolan Flip-Helmets. They are not required to remove their helmet for stops, so he was probably wearing it at the time. I will post more as I get info.

Doc

BradfordBenn
04-14-2006, 10:36 PM
They wear gear similar to a Roadcrafter and Nolan Flip-Helmets. They are not required to remove their helmet for stops, so he was probably wearing it at the time. I will post more as I get info.

Doc

That is correct that is the reason for the Flip Up. They are required to flip up the helmet at stops though. A friend of mine was a motor officer when they changed to flip ups for that reason.

PacWestGS
04-14-2006, 11:21 PM
Todays local newspaper article. Also Trooper Hefdon is expected to make a full recover after being thrown 30' feet away from the mini-van. Yes, that R1150RT-P sitting smunched in the road.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/crime/story/5661004p-5078100c.html

There is also video footage shot be King5 news at KING5.com that shows the whole mess from a helicopter.

The reason I mentioned that they wear flip-ups and had it on, is unlike CHP and some other DPS agencies (which last I knew were required to present the 'Polyester/Starched Short-Sleeve, Ken-Doll non-intimidating appearence, take your Half-shell helmet off and approach the driver look) WSP figures intimidation might be their best approach having to potentially shoot someone after a stop.

Motorman
04-15-2006, 11:35 AM
My old Dept. uses 3/4 shell helmets. In the summer full face including flip ups would be intollerable. When it's hot most take the helmet off but when the temp is not too bad, leaving it on helps since the radio is wired to the speakers in the helmet. That means you can hear radio traffic and the person you are dealing with does not. That can come in very handy at times particularly if it's news the stopped person is not going to want to hear.

PacWestGS
04-28-2006, 12:36 AM
Trooper Hefdon credits his helmet for saving his life. :thumb

I said I post more info as I got it. It was kinda hard to post only the words so I'm just sticking in the link.

http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_042106WABtroopertalksDS.5abbdf18.html

Hope that works for most of you, if not I'll try and go cut and paste only the words on the website (it wanted to include photos and avertisments)


Doc

selil
04-28-2006, 01:02 AM
That's my old department stomping ground. PCSO.