After Minnesota State Police (MSP) released dash cam video to help track down a truck driver who was involved in a collision with a squad car, many social media users are arguing that it was actually the trooper’s driving that caused the crash.
The crash happened around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 26 on westbound I-94 at Mounds Boulevard in St. Paul, Minnesota.
MSP says that “the trooper had his squad’s emergency lights activated and was pulling up behind several crashed vehicles” when his vehicle was sideswiped by a semi truck. MSP says that the truck driver did not stop after the crash.
Troopers say that they are asking for public help in locating the truck and driver. They say that the truck is red with front end damage and that the trailer is white. The truck driver is described as a black male in his 50s or 60s.
After viewing the dash cam video, many social media users argued that the trooper appears to have performed a dangerous driving maneuver right in front of a semi truck while road conditions were poor.
Facebook user and long haul truck driver Jared Murphy commented on the MSP’s video to defend the “hit and run” truck driver:
“So let me get this straight. Your trooper makes a 3 lane sudden maneuver in a snowstorm in front of a tractor trailer…..then expects the trucker to also be able to maneuver quickly….in a snowstorm….to avoid the dummy? It doesn’t work that way. I’ve driven a truck otr for 15 years and that cop put everyone in a bad spot there. Stop blaming the driver and train your troopers on The Smith System,” he wrote.
Facebook user Jason Strain wrote:
“Hey trooper, pay attention. You cut off a semi in the snow. Consider yourself lucky to be alive and move on with life.”
Jeffrey Noe pointed out:
“If you watch the video carefully, the rig didn’t hit the troopers car it was the trailer. The camera didn’t move as being hit until the rig was well past the car. But what a bone head rookie move to cut 3 lanes during a snow storm at any speed! He’s lucky to be alive to cause such an unsafe situation. The trooper should have been cited by his commander for reckless driving.”
Take a look at the MSP footage in question below.
