7 Oklahoma Highway Patrol car chases led to 8 fatalities

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has led seven vehicle chases over the last year resulting in eight deaths.

The Tulsa World reports that two of the deaths were uninvolved motorists and the latest death was one of the agency’s lieutenants.

Records show that all actions were deemed to be within policy by the Department of Public Safety.

But troopers involved the July death of Lt. Heath Meyer and those who reviewed the case emphasized the pursuit’s “extreme danger” and its “reckless nature.”

Documents also show a secondary trooper tried to overtake the lead trooper when the crash occurred. The action is prohibited in policies of Tulsa County’s two largest law enforcement agencies unless permission is given in advance.

DPS Commissioner Rusty Rhoades declined to comment on whether the agency prohibits such maneuvers.