A view of the scene from a Nebraska Department of Transportation traffic camera. (Courtesy: NDOT)
The Nebraska State Patrol says a trooper was injured Monday afternoon after a suspect rammed a NSP cruiser during a pursuit. The patrol says around 12:40 p.m. a trooper saw a Ford Fusion traveling more than 100 miles per hour on I-80 in Lincoln near mile marker 403.
The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused to pull over and fled westbound. The trooper initiated a pursuit and the driver passed several vehicles on the shoulder and continued westbound at speeds above 100 miles per hour. When the vehicle reached the Milford interchange it exited and re-entered I-80 traveling eastbound toward Lincoln.
The NSP AirWing took over the pursuit from the air as the vehicle continued at a high rate of speed through the Lincoln area. After passing through Lincoln, troopers continued their pursuit on the ground. At around 1:15 p.m. the suspect rammed a trooper’s patrol vehicle, causing both vehicles to roll near mile marker 422. The trooper’s cruiser came to rest in the median. The suspect’s vehicle crossed the westbound lanes and came to rest in a ditch.
The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. The trooper was taken to Bryan Medical Center West Campus with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect refused medical treatment at the scene and has been transported to Lancaster County Jail. Charges are pending as the investigation remains ongoing.
Interstate 80 was closed for both directions of travel for approximately 75 minutes.