A Washington State Patrol trooper is recovering after he was hit by a car while checking on an abandoned vehicle in Thurston County.
The crash was reported at 9:24 p.m. Tuesday in the eastbound lane of state Route 8 near Old Olympic Highway, Trooper Guy Gill said.
The trooper was in his patrol car while checking on the vehicle after a driver crashed into a ditch. He was struck by a red 2004 Ford Explorer that was “going too fast for the road conditions” and lost control, pushing the patrol car into a tree, Gill said.
The trooper suffered head, neck and shoulder pain and was hospitalized, but he’s recovering at home now, Gill said.
“There were no broken bones, but he has lots of soreness,” Gill said.
The driver of the Ford, 51-year-old Brian L. McNeff of Olympia, was not injured.
Troopers responded to several crashes in the same area Tuesday night, all of which involved drivers going too fast for the conditions, Gill said.
“The causing driver said he is very thankful the trooper was not standing next to his patrol car,” Gill said. “This could have been much worse.”
Charges are pending.
Chelsea Krotzer: 360-754-5476 ckrotzer@theolympian.com
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