Wrong-Way Driver Collides With Florida State Trooper On Highway 29

October 18, 2017

A wrong-way driver collided with a Florida State trooper Tuesday night on Highway 29 in Ensley.

According to the FHP, 37-year old Judy Ruhland of Pensacola was in a Chrysler 300 traveling south in the northbound lanes of Highway 29 near Devane Street entering a lighted work zone area. Trooper Knowles was traveling south on Highway 29 attempted to signal Ruhland by using her lights and siren.

The trooper accelerated ahead of Ruhlandand stopped in the paved median attempting to warn approaching traffic of the impending danger. Ruhland struck the left side of the trooper vehicle.

Ruhland was transported by Escambia County EMS to West Florida Hospital in serious condition. Trooper Knowles received minor injuries,  and  she was transported to Baptist Hospital.

The FHP said charges again Ruhland are pending analysis of a blood sample.

NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

Comments

17 Responses to “Wrong-Way Driver Collides With Florida State Trooper On Highway 29”

  1. Pace lady on October 22nd, 2017 9:50 pm

    Thank you Trooper Knowles for protecting others!! God bless you and ALL of the law enforcement officers! You put your life on the line for others!! True Heroes!

  2. Lillian on October 19th, 2017 10:23 pm

    Trooper Knowles is a fine young trooper and she has always cared for others. That’s what makes our LEO’s such great people, on and off the job. So proud of her!

  3. Emo on October 19th, 2017 1:53 pm

    WOW, what courage it took to do this!! You are a soldier Ma’am and a true hero! Thank you for your service and protecting lives and family!

  4. A on October 18th, 2017 10:33 pm

    I wasn’t there so I don’t know the details more than is reported here. I do know that construction zones and extra lights can be a little tricky especially at night. It seems the Trooper did the right thing in trying to avoid a more serious catastrophe.

  5. Bryan on October 18th, 2017 7:23 pm

    Thank you Trooper Knowles!

  6. Diana on October 18th, 2017 4:38 pm

    Thank you to the FHP. Know the woman personally who was in the wreck and it was just a matter of time. Prayers for her children and a speedy recovery for the FHP officer involved.

  7. No Excuses on October 18th, 2017 3:52 pm

    While it is likely that the driver was impaired, what type of impairment remains to be seen. I’ll be curious to read the update.

    Keep in mind that people suffer from diabetes and other medical conditions that could have caused momentary confusion about where they should have been driving.

    Let’s wait for the facts before we start throwing stones.

  8. anne 1of2 on October 18th, 2017 12:02 pm

    What a scary situation! Her & she = Trooper Knowles is a woman. Let’s give her the credit. Can we bet on the blood test?

  9. Trooper on October 18th, 2017 11:56 am

    Trooper Knowles is a female.

  10. Sidney on October 18th, 2017 11:23 am

    So sorry this happened, especially for the trooper, he has a dangerous job.

  11. BILL on October 18th, 2017 10:44 am

    TO SERVE AND PROTECT EXACTLY WHAT THIS TROOPER SIGNED UP FOR .GOOD JOB SIR !!!!!. NOW FOR THE OTHER PERSON I HOPE THIS PERSON IS OK ALSO NEEDS TO HAVE HER DRIVING PRIVLEDGE SUSPENDED OR REVOKED !!! NOW IF THIS DONT TEACH HER A LESSON TAKE THE NEXT STEP !!!!!

  12. chris on October 18th, 2017 9:39 am

    Interested to see if the driver was impaired or just ignorant.

  13. Jennifer gaugler on October 18th, 2017 8:36 am

    The Trooper should get a medal for saving other people’s lifes!

  14. Charlotte on October 18th, 2017 8:11 am

    Good job for the trooper trying to save someone else from getting hurt, possibly killed. Praying for the lady that was seriously injured, and praying for the trooper that his injuries will heal fast.

  15. Jdub on October 18th, 2017 7:35 am

    Thank you Trooper Knowles for putting yourself at risk to warn & protect the public from the carelessness & selfishness of this impaired driver. So frustrating to see how many people have no regard for others safety by driving impaired…..so selfish….hopefully justice will prevail!

  16. Molino Mom on October 18th, 2017 6:25 am

    Thank you Officer Knowles for stopping this “potential” intoxicated driver before someone else got hurt or even killed. We appreciate you interacting and preventing what possibly could have been a fatality to some innocent driver and their family.

  17. Gary on October 18th, 2017 5:58 am

    Hope the State Trooper will be OK. The FHP is the best.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News