Troopers left their patrol SUV to reroute traffic near a grass fire — moments later, dashcam footage caught a nightmare they escaped by seconds
Highway work can be dangerous, even for those trained to handle emergencies. Troopers left their patrol SUV to reroute traffic near a grass fire; however, moments later, their dashcam footage caught a terrifying close call they escaped by seconds. As reported by News 9, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol released the footage to show how quickly roadside situations can escalate. On February 16, 2026, the unexpected incident took place. The patrol later shared the video, highlighting the risks crews face when managing traffic near emergencies.
The footage revealed the frightening moments in detail. A trooper and an Oklahoma Turnpike Authority worker were outside their vehicles, directing traffic away from the fire. The video shows them waving their arms to get the attention of a fast-approaching car. Just moments later, the driver failed to slow down and crashed into the back of the patrol SUV, as per Oklahoma News 4. Authorities confirmed three people were inside the car at the time. Luckily, both the trooper and the worker managed to step aside toward the median in time, narrowly avoiding injury.
The video captures the tense seconds as the vehicle approached, showing how quickly the situation escalated and how close the responders came to being struck. After the crash, the three passengers in the vehicle were transported to a nearby hospital, where authorities said they are expected to survive. Officials noted that the cause of the crash is still under investigation, and no information about potential citations or charges has been released.
Risk on the highway often lingers, as shown in another incident that, thankfully, did not end badly. Officer James Shield faced a terrifying moment while patrolling Highway 41 when he spotted a small child running toward traffic. The child was just seconds away from being hit by an SUV. Shield quickly turned his vehicle around, honked, and turned on his lights to alert other drivers. He then got out and ran behind the child, guiding him safely away from danger. In a message to his department, he said, “I've got a small child running down the road in front of Lowe's. Just almost got hit by a car.”
Authorities later explained that the child had managed to leave his home despite safeguards due to developmental delays. A spokesperson said, “I want to emphasize the parents in this case did everything that they could to prevent an occurrence like this. This was a very terrifying time for them. We are incredibly thankful that the child was safe.” Thanks to Officer Shield’s quick thinking, the child was returned safely to his family.
Once again, a trooper sprang into action, coming to the rescue and saving a teenager from a dangerous situation. Ohio State Highway Patrolman Mitch Ross stopped a vehicle on the Ohio Turnpike for a minor violation, but quickly noticed something was wrong. He observed a young girl with an adult man and said, “She looks like she’s under 18; she can’t identify herself.” His quick thinking and careful investigation revealed that the girl was being trafficked, and thanks to his actions, she was safely taken into care while the man was arrested.