Arizona Trooper Uses His Vehicle to Stop Wrong-Way Driver

— -- An Arizona trooper put his own life on the line by driving his vehicle into a truck traveling the wrong way -- and in the process may have saved other lives, officials said.

Arizona Department of Public Safety Trooper Jeremy Barr got a radio call Saturday morning about a pickup truck that was moving northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 17 near Black Canyon City, ABC affiliate KNXV-TV in Phoenix reported.

First Barr tried to slow down the cars in the southbound lanes that were heading towards the wrong-way vehicle, but then in order to stop the driver, Barr drove his police vehicle into the truck.

“[Barr] saw the pickup truck coming towards him still traveling 70 miles an hour,” Arizona Department of Public Safety Director Col. Frank Milstead said. “As the truck attempted to pass him, as he’s there with red lights and sirens on, he literally turns in front of the vehicle and stops it by pushing into a rock ledge on the high speed side of the lane."

The trooper was recuperating at the hospital for back injuries. Milstead said that someone might have been killed by the wrong-way driver if Barr had not made that move. "He unequivocally saved lives today," he said.

Meanwhile, the suspect is facing DUI and aggravated assault charges, according to Milstead.