An Arizona Highway Patrol State Trooper was hospitalized after a crash on Interstate 10 Wednesday night.
At about 7:30 p.m., the State Trooper was parked along westbound I-10 between South Watson Road and North Verrado Way, about 20 feet off the roadway, finishing paperwork from a non-injury collision report he had just taken when it was struck by a Dodge Ram 3500 truck, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
The Dodge, owned by Indiana-based Crystal Trucking Inc., was hauling a trailer loaded with a Cybertruck, minivan, and SUV when it drove off the highway and "collided with the trooper’s vehicle at a significant speed," pushing the trooper's vehicle 60 feet off the roadway, according to AZDPS.
"The trooper was transported with possible head injuries and is currently being evaluated at a hospital to determine the extent of his injuries," the statement read.
The unidentified driver of the Dodge Ram was the only occupant of the truck and was uninjured. He was arrested on charges of driving while under the influence of alcohol and is currently being processed for DUI and related felony charges.
Arizona Department of Transportation traffic cameras showed crews loading the truck and its trailer onto a heavy-duty tow truck at 11:40 p.m.
