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WATCH: Utah trooper rams wrong-way driver

Dash cam video shows a Utah Highway Patrol trooper making a split-second decision to ram a wrong-way driver on a highway to protect other cars.

FARMINGTON, Utah - A Utah Highway Patrol trooper is being recognized for his courageous actions to avert a tragedy Tuesday night.

Dash cam video from Trooper Jon Standford's vehicle shows him driving on a freeway near Farmington, when he is approached by a wrong-way driver traveling at 115 miles per hour.

In a split-second decision, Stanford slowed down, then strategically rammed his cruiser into the side of the oncoming car. Stanford's cruiser then crashed into a median wall, while the suspect's vehicle spun to a stop.

Dispatchers sent out the alert of the wrong-way driver moments before.

Stanford told Salt Lake City TV station KSL that he made the decision to stop the vehicle in the interest of public safety.

“I’ve got to stop really quick, and figure out how to stop him because I didn’t want him passing me,” Stanford said. “There was no way he was going to get past me.”

The motorist, identified as 37-year-old Brad Blackner, was arrested and booked into jail for suspicion of driving under the influence and other offenses.

Stanford, a 14-year police veteran who escaped with a minor knee injury, had just seconds to react, a scary situation that he's trained for.

"So in this scenario we were able to avert a tragedy because this trooper, you know stepped up and did what he needed to do to stop that action" said Lt. Todd Royce with the Utah Highway Patrol.

In a statement, UHP said: "This could have been much worse. We'd like to recognize Trooper Stanford who put his life on the line to possibly save others. When dispatchers broadcast an attempt to locate a wrong way driver to our troopers, it's a scary situation. But training prepares our troopers for unpredictable circumstances like these. The dash cam footage in this video is scary but very real. This video shows the determination our troopers have to stop wrong way drivers."

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