Nebraska State Patrol asks drivers to pay attention after another cruiser is hit

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Another Nebraska State Patrol vehicle was hit Sunday morning as troopers responded to a crash in western Nebraska.

This is the second state patrol cruiser to be struck in less than 10 days.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska State Patrol vehicle hit while trooper directs traffic on I-80

Just before 7 a.m., troopers and Keith County deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 near Paxton.

According to the state patrol, there were no injuries, but the involved vehicle was blocking both lanes of westbound traffic.

While crews worked to clean up the crash, multiple troopers were directing traffic through the area.

During that process, a westbound Hyundai Santa Fe drove over several lighted traffic control devices, which were being used to close the passing lane.

According to the state patrol, the Santa Fe nearly hit a trooper’s cruiser parked on the inside shoulder and median.

About a quarter of a mile later, the same vehicle hit a different trooper’s cruiser, the state patrol said.

The cruiser was parked, blocking both lanes of traffic to protect the crews working on the crash.

The trooper saw the vehicle coming and was able to run to safety, the state patrol said. The driver of the Hyundai was also not injured.

According to the state patrol, the driver was ticketed for reckless driving, disobeying a traffic control vehicle and failure to move over.

On June 12, another state patrol cruiser was hit on Interstate 80 between Roscoe and Ogallala.

“This is the second time in just over a week that one of our troopers had to run for safety as an inattentive driver hit their patrol vehicle,” Col. Bryan Waugh, superintendent of the patrol, said in a press release. “There are countless ways to get distracted while driving, but the lives of our troopers, other first responders, and construction crews rely on your full attention while driving. Help everyone who performs their jobs roadside get home safely by always giving the road your full focus while driving.”