The collision happened on U.S. Route 95 and nearly ripped the driver’s side door off the cruiser.
#moveover This happened today on US95 when a motorist disregarded the Nevada Move Over Law and struck a NHP vehicle. Thankfully our Trooper wasn’t injured. It is the law that you must slow down and move over one lane when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle. #drivesafenv pic.twitter.com/PvlzzyLQzA
— NHP Southern Command (@NHPSouthernComm) August 7, 2018
The state trooper was not hurt, but was opening the door of the car at the time of impact.
The driver did not stop at the crash but was caught the day afterward thanks to an anonymous tip, KVVU reported.
Nevada Highway Patrol cited the woman for driving without a valid license, hit-and-run property damage and failure to stop at a scene and render aid, KVVU reported.
She was not cited for not changing lanes, because body camera footage shows her attempting to move over, and she was not able to switch lanes. Highway Patrol officials also said that she slowed down before the crash, KVVU reported.
Trooper Jason Buratczuk says that the law was adopted because the most dangerous part of the job is being on the highway.
“Statistically we’re killed more with vehicles and not by suspects.”
Nevada's law requires drivers to slow down and move to the far lane when passing an official emergency response vehicle. The law was changed in October 2017 to include any motorist on the side of a road, KVVU reported.
Credit: NHP Southern Command/Twitter
Credit: NHP Southern Command/Twitter
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