DENVER – The Colorado State Patrol trooper who was hit and killed on Interstate 70 in eastern Colorado late Friday night has been identified as 37-year-old William Moden, officials said.
Col. Matthew Packard identified Moden, a 12-year veteran of the CSP, at a press conference early Saturday morning. Moden was investigating a crash about 9:40 p.m. Friday on I-70 between Limon and Peoria, near Deer Trail, when he was hit by another vehicle while he was outside of his patrol vehicle, officials said.
With overwhelming sadness we can confirm that a Trooper with the Colorado State Patrol was struck and killed in the line of duty tonight. We ask you keep their family, our CSP family, first responders on scene, and all others affected in your thoughts and prayers.
— CSP Public Affairs (@CSP_News) June 15, 2019
Moden was flown to the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver, where he was pronounced dead. Troopers were still investigating the details of the crash Saturday morning. Officials have not released information about the driver who struck Moden.
However, Sgt. Blake White said the driver and the vehicle that hit Moden remained at the scene. He declined to say if the driver had been arrested, cited or charged.
"We lost one of our very best," Packard said.
Dozens of troopers held a procession in Moden's honor on Saturday morning. I-70 from mile marker 332 to mile marker 360 was closed for several hours after the crash.
Procession begins for Colorado State Patrol Trooper hit and killed in crash along I-70 in eastern Colorado. @DenverChannel pic.twitter.com/KdBXvXvZQG
— Hannah Knight (@hknightreports) June 15, 2019
Moden is the second Colorado State Patrol trooper to be fatally struck by a vehicle this year. Cpl. Daniel Groves, 52, was investigating a crash on I-76 near Roggen when another driver lost control and hit Groves, who was outside of his patrol vehicle.