Update: Idaho state trooper hit by vehicle on I-84 Thursday is in critical condition
Idaho State Police Sgt. Mike Wendler was flown to a hospital in Idaho Falls on Thursday morning after getting struck by a car in Jerome County.
At about 8:30 a.m., Wendler responded for traffic control on Interstate 84 in response to reports of a vehicle fire, according to an Idaho State Police news release. A passing vehicle struck the trooper on the interstate, the release said, and he was flown by Air St. Luke’s to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
Wender is in critical condition, according to an Idaho State Police Facebook post.
The driver of the vehicle that hit the trooper remained at the scene and was cooperating, according to the release. The Jerome Police Department is conducting an investigation since the incident took place within city limits.
Eastbound I-84 was closed for about three hours for the initial investigation but is now open to traffic.
A fellow Idaho State Police trooper created a GoFundMe page to help Wendler’s family cover the medical expenses from the accident.
This story was originally published September 8, 2022 at 3:26 PM.
