ST. GEORGE —  A Utah Highway Patrol trooper was transported to the hospital with minor injuries after he pulled to the side of Interstate 15 near Fillmore to assist another motorist, and an SUV slammed into the rear of his patrol vehicle Thursday.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m., responders were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 15 southbound near mile post 139 involving a dark Toyota SUV that struck a UHP vehicle, Sgt. Todd Royce said in a statement Friday.

The trooper suffered minor injuries and was transported to Fillmore Hospital for evaluation and treatment.

According to information obtained during the investigation, the trooper pulled off of the roadway to help a motorist whose car had slid off of the interstate.

The trooper’s vehicle was stopped on the right-hand shoulder of the interstate with the passenger’s side tires of the car off of the pavement and his lights activated.

While advising Richfield Emergency Communications of his location and status a man driving the Toyota lost control of the SUV that went careening off the roadway and slammed into the back of the patrol vehicle with the trooper still sitting inside.

The driver told officers he was traveling at 78 mph when the incident occurred, with a posted speed limit of 75 mph. At the time of the crash, UDOT overhead traffic message signs were cautioning drivers to lower their speed due to weather conditions.

The trooper was treated and released from the hospital a short time later.

The motorist reported he was uninjured in the crash and was later cited for driving too fast for existing conditions.

“We would like to remind motorists to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles. Please help us keep our troopers safe,” Royce said in the statement.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 71 percent of Americans are unaware that “Move Over” laws exist in their state.

Utah enacted its Move Over Law in 2002, most recently amended in 2016 to address those traveling in a high-occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lane. The law aims to protect law enforcement personnel, emergency responders, highway workers, tow truck drivers and others who are stopped at the side of the road, including those who pull over in need of assistance.

This law requires drivers to slow down and move over when approaching stationary emergency or service vehicles, tow trucks and highway maintenance vehicles.

Millard County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation into the incident.

This report is based on statements from police or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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