Officers injured in collision

Two Mineral County officers were struck by a car last Monday.

 Undersheriff Mike Boone and Deputy Adam Cole were responding to an accident Monday night, February 28, at around 8:30 p.m. A semi truck had struck the bridge and was blocking the west bound lane at mile marker 43.

“They were waiting for troopers to arrive to assist with the incident when a car came around the corner and struck the truck driver, Adam Cole and Mike Boone,” said Richard Hader, Montana Highway Patrol. “The car also hit Boone’s vehicle.”

The car struck the three men around 9:19 p.m. Hader said that the car wasn’t exceeding the speed limit, but was driving way too fast for conditions nonetheless.

“The driver certainly wasn’t in control,” Hader said.

While there were no signs to indicate that there was an accident ahead, there were the lights of the squad cars and some emergency flares in place.

Hader said that the driver of the car pled guilty to the incident and paid a fine. Boone and Cole both suffered knee injuries and Boone also suffered from a wrist injury. Cole drove himself to the hospital while Boone rode to the hospital in the ambulance with the driver of the truck. All three were treated and released.

The truck driver was not injured in the original accident.

Sheriff Ernie Ornelas said last Wednesday at the neighborhood watch meeting that he hopes they’ll both be returning to work within the next couple of weeks.

The department is now short a vehicle because Boone’s car was hit, but he was just glad both of the men will be all right.