North Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper Has Vehicle Hit For Third Time in Three Years

(KNOX) – For the third time in three years, a North Dakota Highway Patrol trooper has had his patrol vehicle hit by an impaired driver in the Bismarck area. The trooper avoided serious injury on Thursday when his squad car was hit during a traffic stop.

The trooper had pulled over a vehicle and was starting to open his driver’s side door when an approaching vehicle failed to move over and struck the door. The trooper and the other driver were not hurt.

The driver of the striking vehicle was arrested at the scene by the Bismarck Police Department. Investigators say the driver had a breath alcohol concentration of 0.201. He also admitted that he was texting at the time of the crash. He faces charges of driving under the influence, having an open container, and failure to maintain a lane. He also has no insurance.

The driver has five DUI arrests within the past 10 years, including a prior second-offense felony DUI.

North Dakota law requires drivers to move over or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles stopped along the roadway, as well as any vehicle with its hazard lights on.