Trooper in Federal Way injured while on traffic stop

Published 4:28 pm Wednesday, February 17, 2016

A Washington State Patrol trooper was struck and injured on Wednesday in Federal Way while on a traffic stop on northbound Interstate 5 at 272nd Street.

Trooper Greg Ulrich was contacting a driver of a car that he had stopped for a traffic violation when another vehicle, which was traveling on 272nd Street to northbound I-5, hit the back side of his body.

Ulrich, a 25-year-veteran of the state patrol, sustained injuries to his leg and back and was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He was conscious and alert during the entire episode.

The driver in the incident, an unidentified 28-year-old female, was observed by a drug recognition expert and found not to be impaired. Troopers are still investigating but believe that driver inattention was a factor in the incident.

Between 2007–2014, 212 Washington State Patrol vehicles have been struck while conducting traffic stops or providing motorist assistance.

According to the Move Over Law, drivers approaching an emergency zone are required to either move over to another lane in the same direction, if it is safe to do so, or to proceed with caution and reduce the speed of their vehicle if changing lanes is unsafe. Emergency vehicles include police, fire, medical, tow trucks and vehicles providing roadside assistance, making use of hazard lights.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call or contact Detective Russell Haake at russ.haake@wsp.wa.gov or at 425-401-7717.