Colorado State Patrol trooper injured by suspected drunk driver

Colorado State Patrol leadership is sounding the alarm after a trooper was injured by a suspected drunk driver Saturday morning — the 12th time this year a driver has struck a patrol car on the side of the road.

“Lives are at risk,” State Patrol Chief Col. Matthew Packard said during a Monday afternoon press conference.

The trooper, Kevin Bagley, fell nearly 30 feet down an embankment after leaping out of the way when the driver crashed into his patrol car Saturday morning near Interstate 270 in Adams County. Bagley was hospitalized and released Sunday afternoon.

Earlier that morning, a different driver — also suspected to be drunk — crashed into an unoccupied patrol vehicle at the same location.

“We got lucky,” Packard said. “But I’m not willing to rely on luck.”

The state patrol chief said charges are anticipated for the two drivers who crashed into the patrol cars.

This year has already seen more state patrol vehicles struck (12) than all of last year (8).

One-quarter of this year’s incidents involved drivers suspected of being impaired by drugs or alcohol, Packard said.

State patrol already has developed a statewide DUI task force team. Dedicated troopers move throughout the state where data shows higher rates of drunk driving, Packard said.

“Eventually it’s going to be someone you care about,” he said.

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