3 minutes

Dennis Katsnelson

In a recent incident, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) trooper encountered an unfortunate accident that left him injured. On a Monday afternoon, Trooper Nathan Battershell was performing his duty of escorting a commercial vehicle to a designated inspection point off of I-40. Little did he know that his day would take a dramatic turn. During the escort, tragedy struck as a pickup truck collided with Trooper Battershell's cruiser from behind. The impact was significant, resulting in damage to the vehicle and causing injuries to the dedicated trooper. It is reported that the OHP cruiser had its rear deck lights activated, indicating the presence of law enforcement.

Following the incident, Trooper Battershell was swiftly taken to a nearby hospital for immediate medical attention. Thankfully, his injuries were determined to be non life-threatening, allowing for his timely release from the medical facility. However, the physical toll on the trooper serves as a reminder of the risks that law enforcement officers willingly face in their line of duty. In a surprising turn of events, the pickup truck driver, who was responsible for the collision, refused medical treatment. Despite being involved in a serious accident, the driver declined professional assessment, perhaps underestimating the potential consequences of their actions.

In light of the circumstances, the pickup truck driver faced legal consequences for their inattentive driving. A citation was issued, highlighting the importance of maintaining focus and attentiveness while operating a vehicle, especially when sharing the road with emergency service personnel.