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NY Trooper Hit and Killed While Issuing Ticket

TONAWANDA, N.Y. — A trooper who was writing a speeding ticket on an interstate highway was struck and killed Saturday by a passing motorist, state police said.

Trooper Kevin Dobson, 43, was pronounced dead at a hospital soon after the 7:30 a.m. accident on Interstate 290 in Tonawanda, near Buffalo, said Deputy State Police Superintendent Thomas Fazio.

The 71-year-old driver of the pickup truck that hit Dobson stopped and was cooperating with police, Fazio said. He said there was no arrest, but the results of an investigation would be forwarded to the district attorney’s office.

New York has a new law that requires drivers to slow down and change lanes if possible when approaching an emergency vehicle on the side of the road. Troopers said at an afternoon news conference that enforcing that law had been among Dobson’s duties.

“Maybe the public will think of him the next time” they come upon such a situation, said Major Christopher Cummings.

Police, however, said it was not clear that the pickup driver had violated the new law, because he was entering the highway from a single-lane ramp.

Regardless, Fazio said, “I’m sure that he’s not feeling well about this situation.”

Fazio said an accident reconstruction team would look into the driver’s actions and the trooper’s.

Dobson was a 14-year veteran of the state police who was stationed at the Clarence barracks. He had three children, aged 4 to 16.

Police said Dobson’s father was a retired Erie County deputy sheriff.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued condolences, saying Dobson had risked his life every day. He ordered flags on state buildings to be flown at half-staff.

—Copyright 2011 Associated Press