Duty Death: Nicholas Dees - [Shawnee]
End of Service: 31/01/2015
The Oklahoman
SHAWNEE, Okla. — A trooper with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was killed and another seriously injured Saturday after a vehicle struck both of the officers as they were responding to an overturned semi, a patrol spokesman said Sunday.
“It was previous collision that involved a semi in the westbound lane,” said Capt. Paul Timmons. “The trooper was out investigating that collision when for an unknown reason a vehicle went around the patrol car and struck both the troopers.”
Timmons confirmed Sunday afternoon the trooper killed was Nicholas Dees, who graduated from the trooper academy in July 2013.
Dees and Trooper Keith Burch were struck at approximately 10 p.m. Saturday on Interstate 40, just outside of Shawnee, according to a Sunday news release.
Dees died at the scene. Burch remains in serious condition at the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City. The driver of the vehicle that struck the two officers was transported to a hospital in Oklahoma City, and he remains in stable condition.
“The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has endured the tragic loss of Trooper Nicholas Dees and serious injury suffered by Trooper Keith Burch.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Trooper Dees and are praying for Trooper Burch’s full recovery” said O.H.P. Chief Rick Adams.
The circumstances involving the accident that resulted in the two troopers being struck is still under investigation. The name of the driver has not been released.
Copyright 2015 The Oklahoman