Trooper SUV hits guardrails in stop

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June 23, 2008

<a href="mailto:avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com">By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG</a> The Press Republican Mon Jun 23, 2008, 04:55 PM EDT

LEWIS — A trooper escaped serious injury Sunday evening when a routine traffic stop turned dangerous.

As heavy downpour soaked the area around 8 p.m., Trooper Gregory Brack was patrolling the northbound lanes of Interstate 87 and spotted a dark-colored sedan speeding near Exit 32.

The 32-year-old trooper pulled behind the car and turned on his Chevy Tahoe’s emergency lights to get the driver to pull over.

Schroon Lake-based State Police said that when the lights were activated, the driver of the car “slammed on the brakes,” causing the trooper to do the same to avoid a rear-end collision.

But the sudden braking sent the officer’s SUV hydroplaning across the wet road and crashing into several guardrails.

As the SUV overturned, police said, the driver of the sedan kept going and fled the area.

State Police said Brack was wearing a seat belt at the time and “was really lucky” to escape the wreck with only a few cuts and scrapes.

Brack, who was working out of the High Peaks barracks, was taken to Elizabethtown Community Hospital for treatment and later returned to duty.

Officials said the Tahoe was “demolished” in the accident and was taken to the Troop B headquarters in Ray Brook as part of the ongoing investigation.

Police are continuing to search for the driver of the sedan and said it was “appalling” that the other driver didn’t stop after the accident.

Anyone with information about the accident, which temporarily blocked traffic on the Northway, is asked to call 873-2750.

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com