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Missouri State Highway Patrol Tells Drivers to Watch Out for Troopers

September 27, 2005
By: Tim Walker
State Capital Bureau

Roadside accidents have claimed the lives of two Missouri State Highway Troopers in the past six weeks and the Highway Patrol says distracted drivers and increased traffic are to blame.

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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A passing vehicle struck and killed Trooper Kevin Floyd as was walking back to his car after a routine traffic stop on September 22nd.

Corporal John Sampietro Jr. was also killed by an oncoming car as he directed traffic at the scene of an accident last month.

Drivers are required to move into the far lane when an emergency vehicle is stopped along the road and Missouri State Highway Patrol Spokesman Tim Hull says drivers need to use caution.

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"But now, even more so than ever they've got to pay attention to the full time job of driving because they are just too many more licensed drivers today and too many more licensed vehicles traveling up and down the highway traveling hundreds of thousands of more miles than we did just 20 years ago"

Hull also says troopers are being reminded to be aware of the traffic around them and, if needed, move their vehicle to a better location.

Reporting from the state Capital, I'm Tim Walker.

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With two Missouri State Trooper deaths in the past month and a half the State Highway Patrol says drivers need to pay better attention to emergency vehicles

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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Many Missourians are unaware of the law that requires drivers to yield to emergency vehicles.

In the second accident in a little over a month, a passing vehicle killed Missouri State Highway Trooper Kevin Floyd during a routine traffic stop in September.

Highway patrol spokesman Lieutenant Tim Hull says that the best way to prevent these accidents is driver awareness.

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"Even though they are not aware of the law, they still need to be aware of the fact that they need to use caution when approaching an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, and thats never changed when you're out driving. That's something (you) should always be doing."

Hull also says troopers are being reminded to be aware of the traffic around them, and if necessary, move their car to a better location.

Reporting from the state Capital, I'm Tim Walker

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The Missouri State Highway Patrol is trying to increase awareness on Missouri's roads after two Troopers were killed in little over a month.

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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Working close to oncoming traffic is part of the job for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Since the Patrol was founded in 1931, passing cars have killed six troopers who were making traffic stops along the highway. Three of those accidents have occurred since 2003, and two in a little over a month.

Highway Patrol spokesman Lieutenant Tim Hull says the highway patrol is telling troopers to be more cautious of oncoming traffic.

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"A lot of that traffic is traveling in excess of 70 miles per hour, and you are standing just inches away from those bumpers on those vehicles and it may be that those drivers are not paying attention."

Hull says more traffic on the highways and distracted drivers are to blame for the increase in accidents.

Reporting from the state Capital, I'm Tim Walker.