Iowa: State Trooper was helping with traffic control when a semi-trailer carrying batteries lost control
For the second time this year, Iowa State Trooper Tracy Bohlen has been involved in a near-death experience.
First, he helped rescue a man who was suffering from a heart attack while driving in March. This time, he narrowly avoided his own death when a semi-trailer plowed into the back of his police vehicle, The Des Moines Register reports.
"I felt the impact — the whole car shook,"Bohlen told the publication.
He was helping with traffic control near a fiery crash when a semi-trailer carrying batteries lost control after a sedan swerved into it, according to the report.
The trailer fishtailed, side-swiped Bohlen’s cruiser, ran off the shoulder, and burst into flames. It was estimated to be going 40 to 45 miles per hour.
"When you pass patrol cars with their lights on, you would think it would register that there's an accident and you should slow down," Bohlen said. "But some people don't slow down."
Bohlen was not injured in the accident. The truck driver, Arny Modou, 38,was charged with a $195 fine for an unsafe approach to an emergency vehicle.