Contributed Photo: This DPS patrol vehicle was used to stop a wrong-way driver on I-10 in Tucson.
Contributed Article
TUCSON – On Oct. 14, Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers were alerted to a wrong-way vehicle traveling east in westbound traffic lanes of Interstate 10 near Avra Valley at about 7:33 p.m. A trooper who was assisting a stranded motorist in the area responded to the report and, ultimately, collided intentionally with the wrong-way vehicle.
The trooper spotted the vehicle at about 7:40 p.m. approaching him head-on near Cortaro Road. The trooper aligned he front left corner of his patrol vehicle with the front left corner of the wrong-way vehicle – forcing an intentional collision that immediately stopped the dangerous incident.
The wrong-way driver was found to be a disoriented, elderly woman. She was not properly restrained during the collision and sustained non life threatening injuries. She was taken to Banner-Univesity Medical Center Tucson for treatment.
The trooper was also treated for minor injuries.
“The ability of our trooper to assess the situation and take decisive action to stop the wrong-way vehicle protected the lives of many motorists while endangering his own,” said DPS Director, Colonel Frank Milstead. “I am proud of our brave trooper and pray he makes a full recovery and never has to face another wrong-way in his life.”
