SALT LAKE CITY - More Utah Highway Patrol troopers have been hit so far this year than in all of 2012.
Over the weekend, two more troopers were hit while responding to other accidents, bringing the total to 16 troopers hit in 2013, compared to 12 troopers hit in all of 2012.
Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Todd Johnson said a common factor in the crashes in people going too fast.
"People just driving too fast. That is the bottom line," Johnson said. "Not all of these were on snowy or an icy surface, sometimes it was just a wet road. People are just traveling too fast."
Troopers said it is the driver's responsibility to exercise caution, reduce their speed and move over as much as possible when there is an accident on the roadway.
"Common sense tells the average driver to slow your vehicle down," Johnson said. "Whatever it takes to keep your vehicle moving safely down the road."
UHP also asks drivers involved in a fender bender to pull off the road before calling 911 to keep drivers and troopers safe.
"We have the fender bender move your vehicle, meaning if you are involved in a crash move your vehicle. And when troopers come across an accident we're moving them off as well we're doing everything we can to be proactive," Johnson said.
When UHP is involved in a crash, another agency investigates to decide if citations are warranted. Most of the accidents this year have resulted in the issuing of a citation, according to UHP.
