NARRATIVE: DOUGLAS COUNTY, CO – On Friday afternoon, November 25, 2016 at approximately 1:50 p.m., a Colorado State Patrol Trooper, Cody Donahue, was fatally struck by a vehicle on I-25 near Tomah Road while conducting a separate traffic accident investigation.
The suspect arrested is 41-year-old Noe Gamez-Ruiz. Gamez-Ruiz was arrested shortly after the accident and was processed into the Douglas County Detention Facility. Gamez-Ruiz has posted bond and is no longer in custody.
Gamez-Ruiz has been charged with the following:
Careless Driving Resulting in Death 42-4-1402
Failure to Yield the Right-of-Way to Emergency Vehicle 42-4-705
Gamez-Ruiz was driving a commercial box-truck belonging to U.S. Foods when he struck Trooper Donahue.
Our hearts go out to the family of Trooper Donahue and to the Colorado State Patrol. This is a tragic and avoidable crime. We would like to remind drivers that if you see an officer on the side of the road please slow down and move at least one lane away from the officer, if possible. This is Colorado state law.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all of the surrounding emergency responders for their assistance in this unfortunate incident.
This is an open and ongoing investigation. No further information will be released at this time.
