Trooper Hurt in Crash on WYO 387 North of Midwest

Authorities say a trooper patrolling Wyoming Highway 387 eight miles north of the town of Midwest received minor injuries after a pickup knocked over multiple traffic cones and slammed into his patrol car Wednesday morning.

Sgt. Stephen Townsend with the Wyoming Highway Patrol says patrolman Richard Burridge, who was seated in the vehicle at the time of the crash, was treated and released later that day from Johnson County Memorial Hospital in Buffalo. He has since been sent home to recuperate.

“Troopers had closed Wyoming Highway 387 and were investigating a crash and numerous slide-offs in the area, when his vehicle was rear-ended by a pickup that was passing a long line of cars that were moving at 30 or 40 mph,” Townsend said.

The pickup driver, 46 year-old Michael Bagley of Riverton, Utah, was cited for careless driving, Townsend said. Troopers estimate Bagley’s Ford F-150 hit the parked car at a speed close to 66 mph.

According to a release, Burridge had his overhead emergency lights activated at the time of the crash. Following the crash, the highway was temporarily closed again by troopers.

Townsend said he does not know yet whether Burridge’s patrol car, a 2012 Dodge Charger, will be repaired or written off.