A Utah Highway Patrol trooper, who was injured in an accident while pursuing a speeder on a bullet bike, underwent eight hours of surgery to his spine Saturday.

Trooper Jeff Bigler continues to recover at a Salt Lake hospital following the incident Friday. A 25-year veteran with the patrol, Bigler suffered three crushed vertebrae when he lost control of his vehicle on U-41 near Zions Outlook outside Cedar City around 12:30 p.m.

Iron County sheriff's deputies said Bigler was in pursuit of a biker who was driving recklessly. Bigler had to be cut out of his patrol vehicle and was taken to LDS Hospital.

UHP Sgt. Sheldon Riches said Bigler's surgery began at 8 a.m. Saturday and ended around 4 p.m. "He's talking," Riches said.

Troopers say they have a "person of interest" whom they are questioning about the incident, which remains under investigation.

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Riches said Bigler is expected to make a full recovery, but it will take a few months.

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