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Trooper hit by car defends driver who struck him

The incident was captured in a dramatic dash-cam video, which shows onlookers rushing to help.
Credit: Utah Department of Safety
Sgt. Cade Brenchley was going to help a motorist on the side of the highway when another car hit him from behind. Dash cam footage captured it all.

Sardine Canyon, Utah — A Utah Highway Patrol trooper who was struck by a car on the side of a snow-covered roadway said he feels "no ill will" toward the driver.

Sgt. Cade Brenchley was responding to several "slide-offs" along the road in Sardine Canyon on Sunday when an errant car slammed into him, launching his body into the air. The incident was captured in a dramatic dash-cam video, which shows onlookers rushing to help.

Brenchley, speaking to the media for the first time Tuesday, said he's "extremely grateful to be alive" after watching the dash cam footage, according to the Deseret News.

"I remember thinking to myself, 'I've been hit. I've just been hit. Holy crap,'" he said.

Brenchley is a father of four, a husband and a soccer coach who works with local high schools. During his 13-year UHP career, he's also delivered a pair of twins along the side of the interstate and saved a burn victim in a car crash.

The crash left him with four broken ribs, a broken shoulder blade and some road rash, reports Salt Lake City's Fox 13.

His wife Lindsay, Fox reports, has watched the video one time.

"Even knowing he's OK, I don't like watching him fly through the air like that," she said.

As for the woman who hit him, Brenchley said she should not be "vilified." HuffPost reports the woman, was in "hysterics" and delivered flowers to his hospital.

"I hold no ill will toward her," he said, noted HuffPost. "And if anybody should be upset, it should be me or my family."

UHP said Brenchley is the 11th trooper to be hit on a Utah road this year. Brenchley hopes his incident serves as a teachable moment.

"When there's snow on the road you just need to check your ego and slow down," he told Fox 13.

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