Oklahoma Highway Patrol asks drivers to obey law after multiple troopers hit - KTUL
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has posted on Facebook about at least four wrecks involving trooper patrol cars in the last four months.
The troopers were on the clock, working on the side of the road when their vehicles were hit.
OHP Lieutenant Mark Southall said the latest happened Monday on the Turner Turnpike.
"It seems to be happening on a regular basis, maybe even more so regular, than what it's been in years past," Southall said.
The trooper that was hit on the turnpike was providing traffic control, Southall said.
"The other vehicle came through there, didn't slow down, didn't take the proper precautions as he approached those red and blue flashing lights," Southall said. "And struck the back of the trooper's unit."
Earlier this month, another driver drove in the wrong direction along Interstate 240. In that instance, the trooper's car was hit as well.
Along Interstate 35 in February, another trooper was hit because a driver didn't slow down and get over.
"If drivers would obey that law, which requires them to move over, however, if they can't move over, they pass at a safe speed," Southall said. "A lot of these instances would be avoided."
Southall said that sobriety tests are part of these collision investigations.
In December, a drunk driver left a trooper's cruiser badly damaged.
"We've got to replace this trooper on the road now with short manpower," Southall said. "And we've got to try and find him a car."
Finding patrol cars is another issue, Southall said.
"We're not special because we're troopers," Southall said. "We're having trouble getting cars as well because of the chip shortage."
A report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol shows that each new vehicle costs just below $54,000.
If the agency had to replace the four cars that were hit between December to now alone, it would cost around $216,000.
"You know, I don't know what the answer is, our lights can't be any brighter," Southall said.
OHP is asking drivers to pay attention, limit distractions while driving, and abide by the law.
The law requires drivers to get over for any emergency vehicle, including tow trucks.
According to AAA, on average, a tow truck driver is killed every six days in the U.S. while helping disabled motorists.
Some troopers and drivers have been injured in some of these collisions, but thankfully, none have been fatal, according to OHP's Facebook page.
source: https://ktul.com/news/local/ohp-asks-drivers-to-obey-the-law-after-multiple-troopers-are-hit
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