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

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A Nebraska state trooper “narrowly escaped” injury Thursday, the patrol said, after his vehicle was hit on Interstate 80.

Around midnight, troopers were called to the scene of a broken-down semitrailer blocking a lane on I-80 between Roscoe and Ogallala.

That area is currently under construction with only one lane open in each direction.

As troopers were directing vehicles to keep traffic flowing, a westbound semi failed to slow down and hit a trooper’s parked cruiser.

According to the state patrol, the semi then hit the trailer of an eastbound semi.

The trooper was not in his car at the time and was able to run away to avoid the semi, according to the state patrol.

The Nebraska State Patrol has asked the Keith County Sheriff’s Office to conduct the crash investigation.

The driver of the semi was ticketed for reckless driving. I-80 was closed for over an hour after the crash.