Bedford , NH : New Hampshire state trooper was injured after hit by a car at Interstate On Sunday, May 22nd, 2016

The fiancee of a New Hampshire state trooper who was hit by a car on the interstate said Monday that it could have been a lot worse.
Trooper Ryan Hickey is recovering from his injuries at a hospital. His fiancee, Paige Minotti, said he is bruised and sore, but in good spirits.

Hickey was hit by a passing vehicle on the Everett Turnpike about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Police said he was hit by the mirror of the vehicle while he was assisting another trooper during a motor vehicle stop in Merrimack.

"He was there helping another trooper and was walking back to his driver's side and just got hit from the back," Minotti said. "He didn't see it coming. Just the thought of that is awful."

Minotti said the incident was the second life-threatening situation Hickey had encountered recently. He was one of the state troopers who responded on May 13 when two Manchester officers were shot.

"I was at work and saw it on the news," Minotti said. "I said, 'Oh, my gosh. He is there. He could get hit.'"

After Hickey was struck on the interstate, the other trooper was able to put out a description of the vehicle. Police announced a day later that they had found the SUV and identified a person of interest, but no arrest has been made.

State police urged drivers to be careful when officers are pulled over on the side of a road.

"Someone is on borrowed time," Capt. Matthew Shapiro said. "We can't keep having the number of cruisers hit that we have had. We had 23 cruisers hit two winters ago between Thanksgiving and February."

Last month, there was a close call on Interstate 89 when a bus narrowly missed a state trooper.

Police say Hickey is lucky, a sentiment Minotti echoed.

"This could have been so much worse," she said. "I'm just thrilled he is alive. A few more inches, and he could be not here, so I am just thankful he is here."

Minotti said Hickey's left side is pretty bruised up, and he has some mobility issues. But she said the two are still planning for their August wedding, and she's hopeful everything will go as planned.


Source :
State trooper injured by passing vehicle recovering