A Colorado State Patrol trooper was injured early July 4, 2026, after a vehicle struck his patrol cruiser from behind while he was conducting a traffic stop on westbound Interstate 70 near milepost 295 near Watkins, Colorado.

At about 12:48 a.m., Trooper Orozco-Diaz attempted to initiate a traffic stop for a vehicle traveling in the left lane and not passing. The contacted vehicle stopped in the left lane, and as the trooper's cruiser and the stopped vehicle were coming to a stop on the shoulder, a grey Jeep Grand Cherokee struck the patrol vehicle from the rear at a high rate of speed. The impact pushed the patrol cruiser into the stopped vehicle, a blue Saturn Outlook.

Trooper Orozco-Diaz and two occupants of the initially stopped vehicle — a 44-year-old adult female and a teenage female from Aurora — were transported to an area hospital. All were assessed and released with minor injuries. The trooper has since been released and is recovering at his residence with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the initially stopped vehicle was charged with failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, driving without a license, violating restrictions on an instruction permit, and having no proof of insurance. The driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 47-year-old female from Byers, Colorado, was placed into custody and later released with a summons to court for suspected driving under the influence, among other charges.

The roadway was temporarily closed for the crash investigation and reopened at approximately 5:50 a.m. The Colorado State Patrol is the lead investigating agency.