We are Central OK REACT. One of our main responsibilities is to assist local and state law enforcement in any way possible. Many times, that means assisting with traffic control during an accident, or assisting a stranded motorist on the side of the road. I have compiled some of these "motorist assists," and "Traffic Assists" from some of our various members..........enjoy.
At 1805 hrs, I was driving northbound on Sooner Rd between SE 44th and SE 29th. Traffic in the left lane was becoming severely backed up. I slowly made my way up and there was a two vehicle collision blocking the left northbound lane and debris covering the left southbound lane. I activated my 4 way flashers and my rear dash light, grabbed my vest, ID, and flashlight. I approached the first vehicle and noticed an older gentleman by the car. I asked if 911 had been called and if everyone was okay. He responded he called 911 and that he and his passenger were okay. I approached the second vehicle and the lady still in the vehicle stated she was okay. Traffic southbound was still driving very near the incident and over the debris, so I promptly directed traffic to the outside lane going southbound. A few minutes later OKCFD showed up on scene and blocked the inside northbound and inside southbound lanes. Since both lanes were blocked and the scene was safe I cleared at 1815hrs.
John Linley, unit 718
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12/13/11 @ 01:42, I was en route to my residence from work when I came upon a maroon Chevy truck, blocking both lane 1 & 2 on NE 23rd street, just east of Westminster, at approximately 11005 NE 23rd in Nicoma Park. I noticed that this vehicle did not have any hazard lights on and was in a dangerous spot being on an upside of a hill. I contacted a Spencer Police officer via Cell phone and advised him of my location since I knew that the Nicoma Park officer was out on an agency assist in MWC. He advised he would be en route to my location to assist me with traffic. I then attempted to contact anyone on the OKC repeater. I activated my T/A grabbed my vest and stepped out of my vehicle. I asked the driver of the vehicle what was the problem and he stated he had run out of gas and that his battery was now dead. I also advised them who I was with and gave him a business card. @ 01:45, Spencer 11 arrived on scene and positioned himself on the hill to advise oncoming motorists of the hazard ahead. At that point, he advised me to help get the vehicle out of the road. I grabbed a tow chain from my vehicle and repositioned it to tow the vehicle into a parking lot up the road. @ 01:50 I had successfully moved the vehicle out of NE 23rd street. I then successfully jump-started the vehicle. They thanked spencer 11 and me for our help @ 0155. Nicoma Park 5 arrived on scene he thanked both Spencer 11 and myself for the help while he was away. We all went back into service at 0200 I continued home to my residence at that point.
Brett Conner
Unit 740
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Saturday, November 12, 2011
Time: Approx. 11:15AM
While returning from the Blanchard parade, I exited onto I240EB from I44EB. As I approached the MayAve off-ramp, I noticed a large amount of smoke behind the retaining wall for the I240WB May Ave on ramp. I exited at May Ave and made a U-turn under the bridge. I entered the On Ramp to May ave. A medium sized grass fire has sparked along the on ramp. I activated my lights, pulled on the north side shoulder. I grabbed my reflective vest and fire extinguisher. I was able to knock most of the flames down using the FE. OCFD Brush pumper arrived on the scene about 4 minutes after I did. The FF drove along the side of the on ramp, while I manned the hose. We got the fire extinguished in under 5 minutes.
He thanked me for my help. I gave him a REACT card.
We both left the scene at 11:30 AM.
Mike Weiss, Unit 728
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On October 4th, 2011, at approximately 19:45 hours, I was traveling west on Reno, approaching Portland, I noticed a semi making a wider than usual left turn. When the truck cleared, I observed a older Lincoln Town car with 2 passenger side flats sitting beside the center median divider. I activated my lights and pulled around behind the vehicle. I attempted to call for monitoring units on the Edmond repeater, with no response. With no contact, I exited and spoke with the driver. Both passenger and driver were in there 50's. The driver still had the car in drive and was asking how far it was to 50th and portland. I convinced the driver to place the car in park and to come look at her wheels. She believed the front was flat but not the back until I showed her. I was trying to talk her into pulling in to the gas station and calling a wrecker or someone she knows for help. She seemed a little incoherant but I thought it was from age. We started to move the car toward the gas station parking lot when she continued north bound and still accelerating. I contacted OCPD and advised them of what was happening and who I was. They stayed on the line with me as I advised of the drivers location and how the driver was acting. Before reaching the railroad tracks on Portland, the driver had increased to approximately 45 mph and was having a hard time maintaining control. She almost didnt get stopped at 10th street. At 23td she entered the left hand turn lane, but when the arrow came on, she remained still. When the northbound light went green, she cut off the second car, which had allowed me to stay behind the individual. Just as we crossed the light, OCPD turned on to 23rd and fell in behind the woman. I dropped back and maintained closure of both lanes until the office could get the woman stopped. We came to a stop at 30th and Portland and another officer joined us. both the driver and passenger resisted arrest and the driver threw herself to the ground. Due to this, I had to wait for a PD LT to show up on scene for my statement. I was released from the area at approximately 2030 hours.
Chris Hadley, Unit 716
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On 1-3-2011, at approximately 21:45, units 715 and 714 were en route to our residence following a movie at the Warren Theatre in Moore. We were northbound on 1-35 nearing the I-40 Junction, when I observed a red Dodge 1500 4x4 in the far eastern lane with it’s hazards on. I also observed an older Honda Accord 4 door turned sideways in a snow drift.. I threw on my lights and stopped behind the Dodge. I put my vest and got out, approached the vehicles and was advised that the guy driving the Honda just lost control of his vehicle and ended up sideways. The driver of the red Dodge advised me that he was just going to pull him out if I thought that was ok. I assisted them in hooking up the tow rope and then the Dodge pulled the Honda out. We went 10-8 at 2150.
Daak Love, Unit 714
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While traveling home from "Haunt the Zoo". I observed a black 4 door sedan with the hood up and flashers on, under the I35 overpass at NE 50th Street. I passed the vehicle to "check" the situation. Not seeing any obvious danger signs, I made a turn around and pulled up behind the vehicle. I activated my over head lights and corner strobes. I called on the OKC repeater that I would be out with a stranded motorist at NE 50th and I35, on NE 50th. I gave a description of the vehicle (Blk Chrysler 300, with OK Lic 322EYG) occupied by two subjects.. I put on my reflective jacket and approached the passenger side of the vehicle. The driver exited the vehicle and met me on the curb, between our vehicles. He was an elderly blk gentleman. He stated his vehicle had just died and would not start back. We checked under the hood for any obvious defects. He attempted the start the vehicle, with no luck. He stated that he and his wife had just left church in Forest Park and were heading home, when the vehicle died. He was able to contact a motorist assist service, who would send Arrow wrecker to the location. I stayed with the couple until the wrecker arrived. #740, 717, and 725, who also worked the Zoo event, came by. Through radio communications, I informed them of the situation. No further assistance was needed, so they continued home. While waiting for the wrecker, the gentleman informed me that he was the pastor of the church, and really appreciated my stopping and staying with them until the wrecker arrived. He was given a card with the REACT contact information. The wrecker arrived and I cleared off, after the vehicle was loaded, at 2247.
Mike Weiss, Unit 728
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On December 23, 2011, at around 18:40, I was eastbound on W Memorial Rd., approaching May. I was in the right-hand lane and noticed traffic slowing down in the middle and left-hand lane. As I got closer, I noticed an accident had occurred in the middle lane. I had already past it, so I turned left on May and did a turn-around in order to get back to the accident. I got on my REACT radio and asked for any unit that may be monitoring. Unit 716 (Hadley) responded and I explained my situation and my location. He was not that far away, so he responded as well. As I pulled up on the accident scene, I activated all my emergency lights, contacted 716 and notified him I would be out of my truck on the accident scene. At that time, 718 (Linley), also advised me he was monitoring. I grabbed my refelctive vest and my cell phone and approached the drivers. I verified they had called 911 and spoke to one of the drivers. His air bag did not deploy, so he slammed his head into his windshield and also got a bloody nose. I advised him he needed to get checked out, so I contacted 911 and asked for EMS. Shortly after my call, 716 arrived on the scene, activated his emergency lights and blocked off the right-hand lane, diverting all traffic to the left-hand lane. Moments later, fire, EMSA and OHP, arrived on the scene. While the firefighters, medical personnel and OHP spoke to the drivers, 716 and myself directed traffic. The OHP Trooper asked if we could stay on the scene to assist with traffic control, so I went ahead and left the scene at 19:00, to attend a dinner and 716 stayed behind to assist with traffic. Note: The OHP Trooper did thank myself and 716 for assisting with traffic and told us we did a great job of diverting traffic around the accident. One more thing......I gave REACT business cards to both drivers.
Keith Sossamon, Unit 706
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At around 14:40 on October 4, 2011, I had just left the Lake Overholser area and was heading eastbound on NW 39th Expressway, approaching N. Council Rd. As I sat at the light, I noticed northbound traffic on council was coming to a standstill just past the intersection. After looking closer, I realized there had been a traffic accident. I got on my REACT mobile to see if any units were on the air....got no response. I was in the middle lane, so I carefully moved into the left-hand turn lane. Once I got turned, I immediately turned on all my emergency lights, stopped my truck, grabbed my reflective vest and ID and approached the other drivers. There were four vehicles involved and they had both northbound lanes blocked. I checked for injuries and then verified that someone called 911. Traffic was heavy and getting backed up. I stopped traffic from getting in the left-hand lane that was turning to eastbound NW 39th and diverted all northbound traffic on Council to that lane. It was one-way northbound and one-way southbound on Council, just north of NW 39th. At around 15:00, a Bethany Police Officer arrived on the scene and started checking on the vehicles that were involved in the accident. I continued to direct traffic, while he took care of the accident scene. Two vehicles were movable, while two were disabled. He walked back to his patrol car and thanked me for stopping and staying. A few minutes later, another Bethany Police officer arrived on the scene.Two cars were moved into a parking lot, while the other two waited for wreckers. The other officer put on his reflective vest and relieved me from traffic control. He commented to me, "I would hate to see what traffic would have looked like if you had not stopped to direct it around the accident scene." I went back to my truck, grabbed two brochures and two business cards and gave them to each officer. The first officer was in his car, writing up the accident report. When I approached him and gave him my information, he thanked me again. I also gave the second officer my card and brochure and he said he was already familiar with REACT. I left the scene at 15:15.
Keith Sossamon, Unit 706
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At approximatley 16:00, just north of I40 on I44, I noticed a Toyota Camry parked on the inside shoulder. I made contact with 706 by team radio and advised him of my stopping to assist. As I was talking to the female driver, her father arrived and parked in front of our vehicles, As we inspected the vehicle, we found that it had overheated. The father advised he would contact AAA. I let him know that I would wait with them until the wrecker arrive due to traffic increasing and location. I cleared off scene at 1645
Chris Hadley, unit 716
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