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Trooper's car struck by motorist on I-205

Sunday, April 26 | 7:17 p.m.

BY DAVE KERN
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER

Washington State Patrol Trooper Todd Gates was not seriously injured, but his Chevrolet Impala was totaled after a Honda Accord crashed into it on Interstate 205 on Sunday morning. (Washington State Patrol)

Washington State Patrol Trooper Todd Gates is probably lucky to be alive today after a motorist fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into his parked cruiser on Interstate 205 on Sunday morning.

Gates was stopping a 2002 Mazda for speeding — 72 mph in a 60 mph zone — when the driver, Hope L. Kelibner, 30, of Vancouver, pulled to the inside shoulder of I-205, just south of Mill Plain.

While Gates was sitting on the inside shoulder of the roadway with emergency lights on, a gray 2006 Honda Accord driven by Jian A. Zhao, 44, of Portland drifted onto the inside shoulder and struck the patrol car and the Mazda, said Lt. Ron Rupke of the patrol.

Gates and Kelibner were both seated in their cars when the collision occurred. Gates was in a 2008 Chevrolet Impala that was unmarked and part of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Aggressive Driver Apprehension Team. Gates was trapped in his vehicle for several minutes and had to be extricated by Vancouver Fire Department personnel.

The accident happened about 6:50 a.m.

Gates was treated and released from Southwest Washington Medical Center and was recovering at home Sunday, Rupke said.

Kelibner complained of neck pain but declined treatment by emergency personnel, Rupke said.

Zhao was taken to Southwest Washington Medical Center, complaining of soreness to his neck and back. He was in the emergency room late Sunday.

An investigation continues, but Rupke said that Zhao told investigators he fell asleep.

Rupke said motorists should always pull off on the right shoulder when being stopped.

"That's an extremely dangerous spot (the inside shoulder) on the roadway," Rupke said.

Gates, 39, has been a trooper in Southwest Washington for 10 years, Rupke said. No citations had been issued Sunday.

In a statement, Rupke said: "The WSP would like to remind the public that Washington state law requires motorists to pull to the right when being motioned to stop by a police car. One of the most dangerous places for police officers during the course of their work day is the inside shoulder of the roadway. Motorists often pull to the left rather than the right as required by law, jeopardizing everyone's safety."

by Shadow Warrior : 4/26/09 5:32pm - Report Abuse

Well since WSP felt the need to release that statement, it sounds like they have a training issue to address since so many of their troopers run radar on the inside shoulders of various highways. If that statement is correct, then every time a trooper is on the inside shoulder, they are jeopardizing my safety.

This is not to say it was the Trooper's fault, but I think that statement really should've been thought over a bit more before being released.

by bob smith : 4/26/09 6:04pm - Report Abuse

Jonathon, how can you blaim the victim (the trooper and WSP)?

2 other people are at fault. First, the man who fell asleep and hit the trooper. Second, the first person who got pulled over and pulled their car to the left side, instead of the inside, right-hand lane.

That statement said nothing about YOUR well-being. It talked about trooper safety. I believe the training issue is with the public, who continues to pull over on the right shoulder, or in areas where there are no shoulders.

I think your comment should have been thought over a bit more. It's very dismissive to say, "Oh, it's not their fault, BUT..."

by Shadow Warrior : 4/26/09 6:22pm - Report Abuse

Well, if you had bothered to read my statement, my remarks were critical of WSP's statement at the end of the article. The blame lays soley on the driver of the vehicle that crashed into the parked trooper.

However, how often do you see WSP cars on the left(inside) shoulder of the freeway, with the officer standing outside running radar. No lights on, not even parking lights. Not during a traffic stop, just running radar. If it is so unsafe to be on the inside shoulder of the highway WITH the red and blues on, why is it safe to sit on the inside shoulder of the highway with no lights on, to run radar?

Again, my initial statement was critical of WSP's statement that the inside shoulder of the highway is dangerous for troopers to be on. If that is the case, they need to be training officers that it is unsafe to be stopped there for anything, including radar. I was simply pointing out that the inside shoulder is the most common place to see a trooper on I-205 and I-5, whether or not they've got someone stopped. If WSP feels its unsafe, then they need to address it fully.

I'd be willing to bet if someone had slammed into a parked troopers car on the inside shoulder, there would be no mention of how "dangerous" the inside shoulder is for officers.

by Steve Klug : 4/26/09 6:42pm - Report Abuse

I'm bothered by 1. police sitting in the medians and elsewhere doing nothing but revenue collection. 2. By people driving on public roadways in a fog due to the overuse and abuse of prescription and non prescription drugs.

Solution:

The police have a PA system, USE IT to tell these idiots to pull to the right.

The police should be dealing with real criminals. "PROTECT AND SERVE"
Not "INTIMIDATE AND GOUGE"

by K Gero : 4/26/09 7:42pm - Report Abuse

Trooper Gates: I am sad to hear of your unfortunate accident and hope you are resting comfortably. I hope nobody has any serious injuries as a result of the exhausted driver.

For those who are upset with police radar, I have news for you. If you obeyed the traffic laws in the first place, you won't get stung by the
W(A)SP. Anytime I have seen troopers in the center median, they are well off of the freeway or standing behind a barrier if they are with their motorcycle. Give them room when they pull people over. If you cannot move over, slow the heck down! I am thankful they are there. I do not feel intimidated by their presence as some are assuming that is their business. They will nail the idiots who feel a need to race past a group of cars which are going the speed limit. If the traffic is slowed, it is for a reason be it an accident, rush hour slow down, disabled vehicle or an irratic driver. Does anybody know just how efficient these officers are, how many times they have prevented an international incident or how many international drug traffickers they have stopped? They aren't just ticket cops. Our Washington State Patrol Officers are the Best of the Best.

Steve Klug: Many autos are equiped with noise reducing barriers of which you cannot hear noise outside. If you have the radio on or a bluetooth, how do you think the PA system would work then? It could startle other drivers whose cars don't have the sealed barriers. Just don't give the trooper a reason to single you out. State Highway Patrol Officers are there to protect and serve those on the highway from idiot drivers, assist disabled vehicles, provide immediate assistance in an accident and much more.

Final Note: Remember speed racers, the troopers can also take your vehicle photoshot with speed recorded and mail the ticket, too!

by K Gero : 4/26/09 7:44pm - Report Abuse

"I'd be willing to bet if someone had slammed into a parked troopers car on the inside shoulder, there would be no mention of how "dangerous" the inside shoulder is for officers."

It was the inside shoulder.

by Dudley Doright : 4/26/09 8:16pm - Report Abuse

72 in a 60? I'm surprised she wasn't on the shoulder to do that.
People generally don't go over 45 in the left lane when I'm around.

"Aggressive driver apprehension team".. the best way to stop much of the aggressive driving is to ticket people for obstructing the flow of traffic like they do up north.

I got plainly cut off by a woman doing 45 just today who already had a line behind her in the right lane. I was coming near her in the left lane when she swerved to get in front of me in a 70 mph zone.

by K Gero : 4/26/09 8:28pm - Report Abuse

Freaky...

by ima taxpayer : 4/26/09 8:46pm - Report Abuse

It's a good thing he wasn't sitting on the inside shoulder on I-205 North just pass the SR-500 exit, or he would be hit 20 times a day. When the freeway merges from 3 lanes to 2, the "special" people among us seem to think they should zoom up on the left and pass on the shoulder. I'm glad to have the WSP out there in unmarked cars pulling people over for speeding and dangerous driving habits. So when you're sitting there in your car with your sad face and the officer is writing out your ticket, I'll be the one driving by at the speed limit clapping my hands.

by Jack Gale : 4/26/09 8:52pm - Report Abuse

There should be a minimum speed on the freeways, consistent with weather conditions, of course. They have them in the Mid-west, I know. I think that they should be more aggressive about ticketing anyone who uses the left lane for a long period of time. It is supposed to be a passing lane, not your personal lane. They also need to be more aggressive about ticketing slow drivers in the middle lane of the 3 lane free-ways, as they cause big back-ups, unless you want to take a chance on getting a ticket for passing on the right. If yoy can't or won't drive the speed limit, stay in the extreme right hand lane, like the signs say. And turn on all your lights in inclement weather. If you have to have your wipers on, your lights should be on, also.

by Lew Waters : 4/26/09 9:57pm - Report Abuse

All I can say is thank God there were no serious injuries. The photo looks like a real nasty crash.

You may not like being pulled over by the Police for speeding or other traffic infractions, but this wreck might have been avoided if Gates had been behind the Accord and saw him weaving, as sleepy people do. Unfortunately, he was not. We don't like it, but their job is to help keep us safe on the highways. The rest is up to us.

by Nick Littlejohn : 4/26/09 9:59pm - Report Abuse

I'm glad everyone is OK. Let's let this be a lesson to have troopers get on the speaker and require left pull over drivers to move to the right or up to the next exit.

And this sleepy guy needs to pay for the damage to our state property and for the medical bills. The public should not ever pay for this kind of thing.

by J K : 4/26/09 10:13pm - Report Abuse

I believe that a trooper sitting on the inside shoulder is a much different situation than an ignorant driver pulling over on the inside. The trooper is taking radar on the inside shoulder because - surprise - the speeding cars are generally in that lane. He couldn't very well take radar on the outside shoulder . . . he would miss many speeders because there's 2 lanes of traffic between the speeder and the radar gun. While taking radar, he's finding a relatively safe place to park, where the shoulder is wider, and there's plenty of visibility. Or he's parking (yes, possibly even hiding!) behind a barrier of some sort. The ignorant driver is pulling over at whatever spot they happen to be at.

I have been pulled over enough times in my life, and I don't believe that I have EVER pulled over immediately where the police lights came on. I have always slowed down, put my turn signal or emergency flashers on, and continued into a parking lot, or at least a very wide spot on the shoulder. I have never had the officer complain about me taking my time to find a safe spot - in fact, they have even thanked me once or twice. Think about THAT the next time you're trying to talk your way out of a ticket!!!

Now . . . it seems to me that a sleepy driver is just as likely to go off either side of the road. I wonder, therefore, how the inside shoulder comments are relevant to this story. It's a good public service announcement, but it seems that the accident would have been just as likely to happen on either shoulder!

by Kevin McGraham : 4/26/09 10:31pm - Report Abuse

I was driving home Northbound on 205 this morning and noticed this accident. It looked horific, there were firefighters on top of the trooper's car trying to get him out. I'm glad that he is ok, because when I looked at the trooper's car it looked very bad.
I also agree that people shouldn't pull over on the left but people get nervous when being pulled over so it happens. I find it interesting having a WSP Agressive Driver Apprehension Team Trooper out in the early Sunday AM when traffic was extremely light. I drive 205 everyday and speeders are not the main concern with bad driving. I think people who still use their cell phones while driving is a major concern...that should be a stoppable offense. The few times I have had close calls with other drivers they have been on their cell phones and they don't even realize how bad they are driving. I also agree with someone else who made the comment about slow drivers...really right lane is the proper lane to be in, left lane is for passing only.

by ima taxpayer : 4/27/09 8:38am - Report Abuse

The right lane is the appropriate lane to be in when you're out on the open freeway, but not when you're in town. Most of the on-ramps are bumper-to-bumper with cars merging on at 45 mph. The only place where this isn't a concern is on I-5 in Hazel Dell, where the freeway has been modernized to eliminate merges.

by Steve Klug : 5/2/09 10:38am - Report Abuse

K.Gero

You obviously didn't read, nor comprehend my thesis. Let me simplify. If one is not in a daze from drugs, legal or illegal, one will hear a PA. You state the police are to "protect and serve" that's the way it used to be, Now it is intimidate and gouge. K.Gero, ask yourself these questions; Why are these people not pulled over and cited, A.accelerate around people then slow down? B.Accellerate in the left lanes and dart to the right at the last second to exit freeway then slam on the brakes in front of everyone who is in line to exit? C. Sit in the #1 or fast lane and ride 10 or more MPH below the speed limit?

Safety is not the concern K. Gero Revenue is! Need I give you some more examples. WAKE UP K. Gero