An Arizona law enforcement officer was struck by a military-style SUV during a traffic stop, adding to a growing list of incidents in which officers positioned on roadsides have been hit by passing or fleeing vehicles.
The SUV involved was a heavily built off-road-style vehicle, and the impact caused injuries to the officer. The circumstances of the strike — whether intentional, distracted driving, or a failure to move over — were under investigation.
Move over laws require drivers to shift lanes or reduce speed when passing emergency vehicles stopped along roadsides. The laws exist in all 50 states but compliance remains inconsistent, contributing to officer fatalities and injuries that occur with disturbing regularity despite extensive public awareness campaigns.
The incident drew comment from law enforcement agencies in the region, who emphasized that roadside traffic stops remain among the most dangerous situations officers face during routine duty, precisely because passing traffic poses an ongoing threat regardless of what the stopped vehicle or its occupants are doing.
The driver of the military-style SUV was detained for questioning. Charges depended on investigators’ determination of whether the strike was intentional or a product of inattention.