MINNESOTA STATE TROOPER HIT ON I-94 WHILE ATTENDING TO ACCIDENT

A state trooper narrowly avoided serious injury after a sport-utility vehicle slammed into her parked squad car Sunday afternoon on a busy Interstate 94.

Trooper Renee Adrian was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for minor injuries after the 1:30 p.m. crash, which occurred while she was at the scene of a minor accident in the westbound lanes of I-94 at Dowling Avenue N. in Minneapolis. Adrian, who joined the State Patrol in 2006, was released from the hospital Sunday night.

The driver of the SUV was traveling about 60 miles per hour when the crash occurred, leaving the potential for a deadly situation, said Lt. Jeff Gladfelter of the State Patrol. It also speaks to why it is crucial for drivers to abide by the state's move-over law, which requires drivers to move over one lane when possible when they see the flashing lights of emergency vehicles or tow trucks ahead. The law was passed after the 2000 death of trooper Ted Foss, who was struck by a semitrailer truck during a traffic stop.

Not enough drivers are following the law, Gladfelter said. "They're informed about this law, but they're just not following it that well," he said. "You see a few people move over, but we're constantly getting cars moving alongside of us when there's plenty of room to move over."

The law can be difficult to enforce for troopers who are alone and are typically already engaged with a traffic stop or accident. "It's tough, and there's a lot of them out there," Gladfelter said. The second crash closed westbound I-94 for almost two hours. The SUV driver could face charges.