Beckham County, OK – A port of entry officer was injured Sunday, July 12, after the officer's vehicle was struck from behind while working in the area of the Oklahoma Port of Entry just east of the Texas state line.
Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning said the officer works as a port of entry officer, a position responsible for inspecting commercial trucks and other vehicles entering Oklahoma. He noted there are two types of port of entry officers, with some working for the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and others for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Manning believes the injured officer was employed by the Corporation Commission.
"Their job is to stop and inspect trucks and vehicles," Manning said. "They do it out there at the port of entry, which is just inside the state line, just this side of Texas. Those officers also work around that area."
According to Manning, the officer's vehicle sustained heavy damage after being struck from behind.
"I saw a photo of the vehicle and it was pretty heavily banged up," he said.
The officer was transported to a hospital following the crash and was released later that day.
"I'm told he was released yesterday," Manning said. "I hope he's doing well. I know he does have some injuries that he's going to have to work through. Our prayers go out to his family, and we hope he recovers rapidly and heals up okay."
Manning said the crash serves as another reminder of the dangers faced by first responders and other roadside workers.
"It just emphasizes the danger of working traffic out on the interstate," he said. "In those areas there are just a lot of things that can happen, and a lot of them are bad and dangerous."
Drawing from his own experience, Manning said he has been struck by vehicles while working.
"I've been hit on the interstate before from behind during an ice storm," he said. "Fortunately, the speeds were lower and I wasn't injured, but there was a person outside the vehicle at a crash scene who was injured as a result."
He also recalled being struck while making an arrest in a parking lot.
"I've been hit from behind once before in a parking lot while we were trying to arrest another drunk in a bar parking lot," Manning said. "The flashing lights don't guarantee safety for the officers out there."
Manning urged motorists to remember Oklahoma's Move Over Law and to use extra caution whenever emergency or service vehicles are stopped along the roadway.
"This is a reminder for people," he said. "If you're on the highway and you see flashing lights, especially if it's law enforcement, but even if it's a wrecker or the Department of Transportation, those guys are out there doing a job too. They have families and people who care about them, and they're out there risking themselves on the side of the road way. If you see lights, slow down and if you can, pull over.".
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