Arizona State Trooper Russ Sipes is being lauded for his service and heroism in stopping a vehicle that was traveling the wrong way on the freeway and endangering lives.
The incident began just before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, when police dispatch received a report of a wrong-way vehicle traveling east in the westbound traffic lanes of Interstate 40 at milepost 269 about 10 miles west of Joseph City. Trooper Mike Wischmann was closest to the call and responded, traveling east in the eastbound lane, approaching parallel to the wrong-way vehicle that was traveling in the high-speed lane, with lights flashing in an effort to alert the driver to his situation.
“We still don’t know what caused the driver to travel in the wrong direction on the interstate. He was traveling at approximately 35 miles per hour and was alert enough to avoid oncoming vehicles with some near misses, but failed to acknowledge the patrol vehicle,” stated District Commander Captain Larry Parks.
Trooper Sipes also responded to the call and entered onto the interstate from Holbrook traveling westbound. The trooper began performing what Parks called a “traffic break,” moving from shoulder to shoulder with lights flashing in order to slow down traffic. “It’s not like you see on television, nothing is predictable. Trooper Sipes debated his options and after the traffic break, he separated from traffic moving toward the oncoming vehicle,” explained Parks.
As Sipes approached the wrong-way vehicle, he assessed his options, making what is called a “pit manuever.” As he neared the vehicle, Sipes swung his vehicle to the right, then back to the left, striking the oncoming vehicle near the front axle and sending both cars spinning into the median.
The vehicles came to rest with the wrong-way driver facing the driver’s side of Sipes’ patrol vehicle.
“The trooper is at a disadvantage with the other vehicle facing him. Sipes was in a fully marked patrol vehicle, and wearing a law enforcement uniform. He exited his patrol vehicle with his gun drawn and told the driver to exit the vehicle,” said Parks. “The driver refused to comply and began to drive forward toward the trooper, forcing the trooper to fire two shots into the engine block, disabling the vehicle.”
After the vehicle was stopped the driver, a 55-year-old Durango man, exited the vehicle without resistance and was transported to a local hospital as a precautionary measure. Sipes was treated on scene for a minor injury.
Although it is not known what caused the driver to behave as he did, Parks was very pleased with his trooper’s response to the circumstances.
“Trooper Sipes takes his job and his oath to protect very seriously. I’m very pleased with how he handled the incident and couldn’t expect more from any of my troopers,” noted Parks.
Sipes has been with the department for the past year and a half. Prior to that, he served with the Snowflake/Taylor Police Department.
State Trooper Russ Sipes performed a high-risk stop of a wrong-way driver in order to secure the safety of citizens traveling on Interstate 40.
State Trooper Russ Sipes’ vehicle sustained damages after striking the vehicle of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 40.
