NIOSH • 1000 Frederick Lane, Morgantown, WV 26508 • 304-285-5916

Sergeant Struck by a Motor Vehicle on 

Interstate Highway— New Mexico 

(NIOSH LEO 2014-01)

FACE IT: Report Slides
2

Summary

• On December 5, 2013, a 47-yearold sheriff’s office sergeant was 

fatally injured when he was struck 

by a motorist while investigating 

several motor vehicle crashes on 

an interstate highway.

• The sergeant had been 

dispatched in response to reports 

of multiple, minor motor vehicle 

crashes under blizzard conditions. 

• Disabled vehicles were situated 

on the shoulders of the 

northbound and southbound 

interstate lanes, as well as in the 

median. 

Looking southbound on the interstate; conditions immediately prior to 

a vehicle striking the sergeant. (dashcam courtesy of the sheriff 

department)
3

Summary

• Officers from state and county 

law enforcement agencies had 

responded to the scene. 

• During the response, the 

sergeant crossed the highway 

to speak to other officers. 

• He was walking along the 

northbound shoulder, facing 

traffic, when a passing 

motorist lost control of his 

vehicle and slid onto the 

shoulder, striking the sergeant. 

• After stabilization by fire and 

rescue personnel at the scene, 

the sergeant was transported 

to a nearby Level 1 trauma 

center, where he succumbed 

to his injuries the following 

day. Incident site looking south; note gentle down-slope to north end of bridge.

(NIOSH photograph)
4

Contributing Factors

• Weather—the occurrence of severe weather with little or no 

warning, causing low visibility and icy road surfaces for motorists 

• Motorist—not moving into the left lane and/or slowing to a speed 

permitting a complete stop if required 

• Scene management, traffic control—multiple, minor motor vehicle 

crashes in the same location within a short period of time, limited 

resources to commit to response 

• Low-frequency, high-risk event—the number and proximity of 

weather-related crashes in the area was unusual
5

Recommendations

• Law enforcement agencies should 

consider employing continuous size-ups 

by an officer in position to monitor the 

entire response scene and assess and 

manage the risks of operating at a 

highway/roadway incident.

• Law enforcement agencies consider 

implementing the Incident Command 

System when responding to roadside 

emergencies.

• Law enforcement agencies should ensure 

that officers are provided with temporary 

traffic control devices and that additional 

traffic control resources are available to 

respond to escalating incidents.

Locations of vehicles at the time the sergeant 

was struck.
6

Recommendations

• Law enforcement agencies 

should ensure that officers 

wear suitable high-visibility, 

retro-reflective vests when 

operating at 

highway/roadway incidents.

• State, county, and municipal 

authorities should consider 

developing pre-incident plans 

and the use of traffic incident 

management systems in 

response to 

highway/roadway incidents.

Dashcam view of scene prior to incident from northbound MTD unit minutes 

prior to the incident. Note Number of disable and responding vehicles. 

(dashcam courtesy of sheriff department)
7

Recommendations

• Law enforcement agencies should ensure that all members receive 

training for conducting emergency operations at highway/roadway 

incidents. 

• State, county and municipal authorities should consider implementing 

public awareness campaigns to inform motorists of the risks that law 

enforcement officers face while operating along the roadside and of 

the need to follow move-over laws.
8

Sergeant Struck by a 

Motor Vehicle on 

Interstate Highway—

New Mexico

(NIOSH LEO 2014-01)

Download the full report: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/leo/pdfs/L201401.pdf
9

Contact Us

Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation 

Surveillance and Field Investigations Branch

Division of Safety Research, NIOSH

1000 Frederick Lane, M/S 1808

Morgantown, West Virginia 26505-2888

FACE Web Site: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/

Follow FACE on Twitter @NIOSHFACE