ELLIS COUNTY — A KHP K9 injured in an accident on Interstate 70 in Ellis County on Jan. 12 is now recovering at home, according to a social media update from Trooper Tod Heilman. Igor is expected to be back at work in a few weeks.
Trooper Budke also thanked Hillside Veterinary Clinic in Hays and the Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University for the excellent care they provided to Igor.
On Jan. 12, KHP troopers briefly shut down Interstate 70 westbound between Walker and Hays to allow tow trucks to remove a semi, involved in an earlier accident, from the median at the Walker bridge.
During the shutdown, a westbound semi struck Trooper Budke's vehicle with his K9 partner Igor in the kennel.
The trooper was outside the vehicle directing traffic and not injured. The K9 was rushed to a local veterinarian in Hays for treatment and later spent time in intensive care. Igor has been with the KHP for less than a year.