A Utah Highway Patrol trooper suffered serious injuries when his patrol car was rear-ended on Interstate 15 by a suspected drunken driver early Friday morning, police said.

Trooper Cody McCoy had just let a motorist go after a traffic stop near southbound 4400 South, said UHP spokesman Cameron Roden. McCoy had turned his emergency lights off, but kept his amber lights on. He was on the right shoulder when a white Honda Passport drifted off the road.

The SUV smashed into the patrol car from behind about 1 a.m., sending it about 60 feet forward, said South Salt Lake Police Lt. Gary Keller. McCoy was wearing his seatbelt.

"He was pretty banged up," Roden said, and was taken to Intermountain Medical Center in serious condition. McCoy suffered lacerations and other injuries, and spent several hours in the hospital before being released mid-morning Friday, Keller said.

The 31-year-old West Jordan man driving the Passport was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. Investigators smelled a strong odor of alcohol on his breath at the scene, and also alledgedly found an open container of alcohol, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Keller said.

He was booked into the Salt Lake County jail after being treated for a laceration on the head.