On Wednesday night, a Burkburnett Police Officer and two other people were injured after a crash on Interstate 44. According to KFDX News Channel Three, the incident happened on I-44, near the Bacon Switch Road exit. Apparently, a driver hit a motorcyclist from behind and lost control of her car. Her vehicle then overturned in the roadway. As a Burkburnett Police Officer was directing traffic at the scene, he was also hit by another vehicle, and all three people were transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries.
Burkburnett Police Officer Recovering From Injuries
A recent KFDX News Channel Three update reports that Officer Keenan Stubblefield is recovering from his injuries. Burkburnett Police Lieutenant Lahoma Vaughn also reports that he is looking good considering the injuries he has sustained. At this time, very few details have been released about the crash investigation or the other driver and motorcyclist involved.
Move Over For Safety
Everybody thinks that vicious armed criminals are the largest threat to police officers, but the deadliest danger remains on out the roadways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is hoping to raise awareness about the importance of “Moving Over” for safety. Although every state now has “Move Over” laws to help protect police offices and other first responders, only about 71 percent of the general public knows these laws exist. It’s a sad fact that traffic-related incidents are a top killer of on-duty law enforcement officers across the nation.
The Facts on Roadway Safety For Police Officers
- 46 law enforcement officers were killed in traffic incidents in 2013.
- From 2003 to 2013, 138 law enforcement officers were killed on our nation’s roads.
- During the first half of 2014, 26 police officers had already been killed on U.S. roadways.
Keeping First Responders in Texoma Safe
Keeping law enforcement officers and other first responders safe needs to be a top priority for motorists across Texoma. If you see flashing lights, move over and slow down. Their jobs are dangerous enough without having distracted or dangerous drivers further endangering their lives. Move over, slow down and give them plenty of space to do their jobs. This incident on I-44 serves to remind us how dangerous even simply responding to a crash scene is for law enforcement officers.
The team at the Altman Legal Group wishes Burkburnett Police Officer Keenan Stubblefield and everybody else injured in the crash full and swift recoveries.