HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) _ A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper reached his 10,000th Twitter follower with a noteworthy addition.

The Hutchinson News reports (http://bit.ly/1QO6BKE ) that Kansas Highway Patrol Technical Trooper Ben Gardner joined Twitter in 2008 and on Monday he reached the milestone of 10,000 followers thanks to actor Erik Estrada, who now follows Gardner on Twitter.

Estrada is best known for starring as highway patrol officer Frank “Ponch” Poncherello in the television show “CHiPs” from the 1970s-1980s.

Gardner uses his Twitter account _ (at)TrooperBenKHP _ to encourage safe driving habits, remind readers of traffic regulations and other things traffic related. He’s the public resource officer for Troop C in north-central Kansas.