Two Arizona DPS employees injured in I-17 crash; Suspect in custody
Feb 8, 2018, 5:41 PM
PHOENIX — Two Arizona Department of Public Safety employees suffered injuries following a car crash on Interstate 17 in the Flagstaff area on Thursday morning.
The crash occurred when an allegedly impaired driver struck a DPS box truck that was delivering food to the agency’s canine units from behind. The box truck then rolled on its side.
The two Arizona Department of Public Safety employees who were involved in the crash were a trooper and a sergeant.
#ImpairedDriver collides with and injures two troopers that were delivering K9 food statewide in a box truck. Our trooper sustained serious but non life-threatening injuries; our Sgt. sustained minor injury. pic.twitter.com/J6H4ghYbUe
— Dept. Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) February 9, 2018
The trooper sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while the sergeant sustained minor injuries.
Neither of the employees were identified.
DPS officials said the 19-year-old driver of vehicle that struck the box truck wasn’t injured, but was taken into custody.
They said Van Rothermel of Tempe has been booked into the Coconino County Jail on suspicion of DUI, aggravated assault, endangerment and drug possession.
It’s unclear if Rothermel has an attorney yet.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.