A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper was taken to an area hospital by air ambulance Thursday morning following a rollover accident between Tonganoxie and Basehor.

The accident occurred about 7:35 a.m. just east of 182nd Street on U.S. Highway 24-40.

Trooper Josh Reischman of Tonganoxie was driving east on the four-lane divided highway headed to a call when the accident occurred, according to KHP’s Howard Dickinson. Reischman was behind another vehicle in the passing lane when it appeared that Reischman moved too far to the left and dropped a tire off the shoulder, Dickinson said. Reischman’s vehicle then went across the two eastbound lanes and into the south ditch. The vehicle hit a rise in the ditch and rolled over at least twice, Dickinson said.

Reischman was taken to KU Hospital by air ambulance and was in serious condition with non-life-threatening injuries, Dickinson said. The trooper was “bleeding pretty good,” Dickinson said, and had severe head trauma, as well as neck and back injuries. Reischman was wearing a seat belt and a bulletproof vest, Dickinson said.

“We’re better protected than the average everyday Joe,” he said.

Dickinson said troopers sometimes move a bit to the left if behind a vehicle that isn’t yielding to a highway patrol officer. This can allow for a driver to see the lights better in rear-view mirrors, Dickinson said.

The accident also caused traffic to be rerouted from U.S. 24-40 for some time Thursday morning.