BRYAN COUNTY, Okla. — A deputy of the Bryan County Sheriff’s Department who was responding to an emergency call died in a crash early Tuesday morning.
The peace officer has been identified as Deputy Jarid Taylor.
Capt. Scott Hampton of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Deputy Taylor’s Ford Explorer patrol vehicle went off the road along Old Highway 70 near Lone Oak Road, east of Durant, just before 6:30 a.m.
“We called 911 within seconds that it hit,” said Yates Canipe, whose wife summoned emergency responders after hearing the impact. “It’s sad. I hate it.”
There were no additional vehicles involved in the crash. The cause of the collision remains under investigation, KTEN reported. They did not indicate the nature of the emergency the deputy was responding to, other than it was a 911 call.
“We’ve activated our active homicide unit, and we have multiple members from that unit over here,” Hampton said.
A local resident commented to the news agency.
“There’s been a lot of wrecks right here… lots of them around this curve. It’s a shame,” he said.
“We actually called before we even looked out… because we knew with history,” Canipe tearfully added.
“It’s a very hard day,” Hampton said. “It’s a tough day for all law enforcement… especially his brothers and sisters that he worked with. It’s just going to take some time to move forward and give them some time to grieve.”
Deputy Taylor was engaged to be married. Moreover, his survivors include a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl.
“With this hitting so close to home, it’s a stark reminder that things can change in an instant,” Capt. Hampton said. “It reminds us… and hopefully everyone watching… to use the time you have valuably.”
