Few details have been released two days after a truck driver was fatally shot by an Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) trooper during a traffic stop that turned “physical” on the Turner Turnpike in Creek County.
“A physical struggle ensued roadside and continued into the cab of the truck,” after a trooper requested assistance with a K-9 deployment, following a traffic stop that occurred at 8:22 a.m. Wednesday on the turnpike in the eastbound lane at mile marker 183 near Stroud, Oklahoma, according to a OHP media release.
“The driver attempted to drive away with the trooper still engaged in a physical confrontation with [the truck driver],” the news release said. “At approximately 8:35 a.m., the trooper advised the communications center shots had been fired.”
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
On Friday, Sarah Stewart, director of media operations for OHP, told FreightWaves that the agency is “not releasing any more information at this time.”
She declined to comment on why the trooper called for K-9 backup. She also didn’t address questions about whether the trooper was wearing a body camera at the time of the shooting or if the trooper’s dashcam recorded the altercation and shooting. The name of the trucking company also has not been released.
After OHP Troop Z, which processed the scene, completes its investigation, the evidence will be turned over to Creek County District Attorney Max Cook to review, Stewart said.
As of publication, Cook failed to respond to FreightWaves’ request seeking comment.
The trooper involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, according to the news release.
Click here to read more articles by Clarissa Hawes.
Read related articles here:
Mississippi trucking company to pay $482,000 for PPP scheme
Trucking bookkeeper already in prison for embezzlement sentenced for PPP fraud
Missouri trucking company worker gets 6 years for money laundering, fraud
Utah trucking owner admits bribing FedEx manager, defrauding PPP loan program
Do you have a news tip or story to share? Send me an email or message me @cage_writer on X, formerly known as Twitter. Your name will not be used without your permission.
Dennis Mofield
I share the disgust with the OHP, I can’t imagine what would justify not openly reporting on this terrible terrible incident. I have the same concerns as everyone, why was he stopped ? pretty easy , where is the dash/body cam again pretty basic in this investigation. The fact that the officer was placed on paid leave pending further investigation, understood , but come on .
This incident has dragged on for nearly a month, how long are you guys going to dance around the issues ? Come on where is
the transparency !
Abdikadir
I send my condolences to the family of that driver.
Peolple need justice. We all need to know wht happened.
Stephanie Schones
I drove by the incident as the Troopers were taping it off that morning over 20 days ago no news no releases. What are they covering up? I want to know, there was no reason for that man to die! Two days before that another hot head trooper almost caused three of us to wreck when he threw on his lights as he was speeding by and noticed I was not wearing a seat belt $20 ticket . It is knee jerk reactions that these boys with guns has me worried. Still upset by this very much upset! We need answers!
Ken Lindaman
When is there going to be an update to this? 9 days is plenty of time to tell the public the names of those involved, the reason for the stop and rather the officer was wearing a body cam or had dash cam video or audio of the situation. Ongoing investigation can stay ongoing, but those things can be released while the ongoing investigation is in progress.
KARLA
What are the updates in this case? wh was the driver?
Todd Miller
Why are there no updates on this?
Ken
The truck had K & F trucking on the door. Out of Oxford North Carolina a 1 truck company owned by Kathy and Franklin Rice, so it’s most likely Mr. Rice that was driving their only truck, but I suppose they might have paid someone to drive for them, doubt it, but possibly.
Trucker1375
They tax us to death,
They drive us to death,
They shoot us to death.
Nothing new here, Truckers are all expendable,