Procession honors trooper killed in crash on I-35 in Oklahoma City

A procession is underway Wednesday afternoon for an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper killed in a wreck along Interstate 35.

WATCHING KOCO 5. BREAKING NEWS IS HAPPENING NOW. THANKS FOR BEING BACK WITH US AS WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW BREAKING NEWS. A TERRIBLE CRASH TODAY ON I-35 IN OKLAHOMA CITY BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HEFNER INVOLVING AN OHP TROOPER, A MOTHER AND HER FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD, ALL OF THEM JESSICA KILLED IN THIS CRASH. AND WE’RE TAKING YOU LIVE RIGHT NOW TO THE SCENE WHERE THERE IS A MASSIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE RIGHT NOW, AS AUTHORITIES ARE ABOUT TO TAKE THE BODY OF TROOPER VERNON BRAGG TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE. WE JUST SAW MOMENTS AGO, HIS BODY LOOKED TO BE IN A CASKET WITH AN AMERICAN FLAG DRAPED OVER IT AND WAS PUT IN THE BACK OF A VEHICLE. YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT THIS SCENE IS LIKE RIGHT NOW FOR HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN BLUE, YOU SEE FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, TROOPERS ALL THERE ON SCENE RIGHT NOW. THIS WAS A BELOVED MEMBER OF THE OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PATROL, SERVING FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, WHO DIED IN THIS TERRIBLE CRASH OFF I-35 IN BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HEFNER TODAY. AND THIS CRASH HAPPENED HOURS AGO AT 1130 THIS MORNING. IT DID. WHAT WE’RE HEARING RIGHT NOW IS THAT SO? THE MOTHER AND HER FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD WERE IN A SMALL SUV GOING SOUTH ON 35, WHERE THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT FELL OFF THE BACK OF A TRAILER AHEAD OF THEM, SOME SORT OF HEAVY MACHINERY, PERHAPS. THE MOTHER TRIED TO SWERVE TO AVOID IT, ENDED UP LOSING CONTROL GOING THROUGH THE CENTER MEDIAN THAT THE CENTER DIVIDER. THERE’S A CABLE CABLE GUARD THERE THAT SHE WENT THROUGH AND ESSENTIALLY ENDED UP HITTING THE TROOPER TROOPER HEAD ON, WHO WAS GOING NORTHBOUND AT THAT TIME. AGAIN, ALL THREE PEOPLE INVOLVED THAT WERE IN THOSE VEHICLES HAVE DIED. WE KNOW THAT TROOPER JESS WAS A FATHER OF TWO KIDS, A HUSBAND HE HAD MARRIED WITH A WIFE. AND SO THIS IS A INCREDIBLY SAD ON SO MANY LEVELS. WE DO NOT KNOW THE IDENTITIES RIGHT NOW OF OF THE MOTHER AND THE FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD. WE WILL, OF COURSE, LEARN MORE INFORMATION AS THIS GOES. BUT WE’RE SEEING THIS PROCESSION NOW WHERE EVERYBODY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT COMING TOGETHER TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS AND LEAD THE TRANSFER OF HIS REMAINS TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE. HEARTS ARE INCREDIBLY HEAVY RIGHT NOW, AS LOVED ONES ARE MOURNING THE LOSS OF THIS TROOPER, AS WELL AS THE MOTHER AND HER FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD. WE’RE HEARING FROM THE OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PATROL SAYING THAT TROOPER BRAKE PROUDLY SERVED WITH THEM FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME WITH TROOP S, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT. AND THEY SAID THAT AFTER HIS GRADUATION CEREMONY, HE SERVED WITH OKLAHOMA COUNTY AND LOGAN COUNTY, AS WELL. AS EVAN SAID, YOU JUST THINK OF HIS FAMILY RIGHT NOW, LEAVING BEHIND A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN AS WELL, GRIEVING THE LOSS OF THEIR THEIR LOVED ONE, HUSBAND AND FATHER. TODAY, THEY SAY THAT THEIR THEIR THOUGHTS AND DEEPEST SYMPATHIES RIGHT NOW ARE WITH THE FAMILY AS WELL. THE OTHER DRIVER INVOLVED. AND AGAIN, WE’RE STILL WAITING ON THE IDENTITIES OF THE TWO OF THEM. AS YOU LOOK LIVE ANOTHER PICTURE HERE FROM THE SCENE JUST KIND OF SHOWING, YOU KNOW, THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS CRASH HERE, AND IT’S JUST IT’S A DIFFICULT DAY HERE IN OKLAHOMA FROM WHAT WE’RE HEARING. AND WE’RE GOING TO KEEP YOU ON THE AIR HERE AS THIS PROCESSION BEGINS TO GET GOING. BUT THIS IS WHERE IT HAPPENED. I THINK WHAT YOU’RE SEEING THERE OBVIOUSLY IS A VEHICLE. I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE SUV BEHIND BEHIND THAT THE THE THE MOM’S SUV, HUGE DEBRIS FIELD. FROM WHAT WE’RE HEARING, WE’RE ALSO HEARING A BIT ALREADY ABOUT TROOPER BREAK FROM PEOPLE WHO WORKED WITH HIM. HE WAS A LARGE MAN, SIX FOUR, SIX FIVE. HE WAS DESCRIBED BY BY LOGAN COUNTY SHERIFF AS A MOUNTAIN OF A MAN, BUT A TEDDY BEAR. JUST THE SWEETEST MAN AND SOMEBODY WHO EVERYBODY COULD REALLY RELY ON. THEY SAID HE LOVED HIS FAMILY, LOVED HIS KIDS. AND SO THIS IS A LOSS THAT’S GOING TO BE REALLY, REALLY HEARTFELT. I THINK, ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES WHERE HE WORKED IN LOGAN COUNTY AND OKLAHOMA COUNTY THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, A HUGE LOSS TODAY IN OKLAHOMA. AND AS HIS LOVED ONES ARE MOURNING HIS LOSS, THEY’RE ALSO THERE ON SCENE INVESTIGATING THIS IS A CRIME SCENE. AND RIGHT NOW, AUTHORITIES ARE LOOKING FOR THE VEHICLE THAT DROPPED THIS PIECE OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT. THEY BELIEVE THAT FELL OFF OF PERHAPS SOME SORT OF TRAILER, FELL ONTO THE ROAD, AND THAT, THEY BELIEVE, IS WHAT CAUSED THE WOMAN TO SWERVE AND END UP CROSSING THAT CABLE BARRIER AND INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, HITTING, HITTING THE TROOPER. WE BELIEVE THAT TROOPER BRAKES REMAINS ARE INSIDE THAT VAN THAT HAS JUST BEEN LOADED UP. HIS HIS HIS REMAINS WERE IN WHAT LOOKED LIKE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A CASKET. IT WAS DRAPED WITH AN AMERICAN FLAG. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THEY LOADED HIM UP JUST BEFORE WE CAME ON AIR. SO WE CAN DESCRIBE IT TO YOU AGAIN. YOU SEE THE GIANT LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE RIGHT NOW. TROOPER BRIT GRADUATED FROM THE 56TH OHP ACADEMY. THIS WAS BACK IN 2006. AGAIN. HE’S BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT NOW FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS. SOMEBODY WHO HAS WORKED IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AREAS WITHIN THE OHP, HE HE STARTED AS A ROAD TROOPER. HE THEN MOVED ON TO SIZE AND WEIGHTS, COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE TYPE TYPE STUFF. AND SO HE WAS ON THE JOB TODAY JUST DRIVING NORTH AS WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY TIMES, IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY AT ANY TIME. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU’RE ON THE ROAD AND JUST WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME IN SO MANY WAYS IS WHAT IT’S LOOKING LIKE. AND AS WE ZOOM IN HERE, YOU CAN SEE THIS PROCESSION GETTING READY. THOSE ARE OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PATROL, OR I SHOULD SAY OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE OFFICERS ON THEIR MOTORCYCLE UNITS. THEY ARE LINED UP AND TAKING OFF RIGHT NOW AS THEY WILL LEAD THIS PROCESSION WITH THIS VEHICLE TO FOLLOW WITH THE BODY. THE REMAINS OF TROOPER VERNON BRAKE BEHIND THEM, HEADED TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS OFF OF 23RD STREET. THIS SCENE WHERE THE CRASH HAPPENED I-35 IN BETWEEN WESTERN AND HEFNER. AS IT BEGINS RIGHT NOW. IT’S NOT A VERY LONG DRIVE FROM WHERE THEY’RE GOING. THIS THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE ON 23RD. IT’S NEAR THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION, IF YOU’RE FAMILIAR. SO NOT FAR FROM THE FROM THE STATE CAPITOL. AND SO THEY HAVE A COUPLE MILES TO THREE MILES, PERHAPS UNTIL THEY CAN GET TO THAT SPOT. BUT THEY’RE GOING TO TAKE THEIR TIME. CLEARLY, WE HAVE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AGENCIES WHO ARE REPRESENTED HERE. OF COURSE, WE SAW THE OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PATROL. THAT RIGHT THERE IS LOCAL MOTORCYCLE POLICE. THERE’S GOING TO BE OTHER AGENCIES AS WELL AS ANYTIME YOU SEE. I MEAN, WE’VE COVERED JUST TRAGEDIES SUCH AS THESE BEFORE. AND EVERY TIME YOU CAN COUNT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES A BROTHER AND SISTERHOOD COMING FROM MULTIPLE COUNTIES, SOMETIMES STATES AWAY TO COME AND PAY THEIR RESPECTS IN A SITUATION SUCH AS THIS. AND SO I WON’T BE SURPRISED WHEN WHEN WE FIND OUT WHO IS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESSION AND ENDS UP BEING A RATHER LARGE LIST OF AGENCIES, THEY UNDERSTAND THE RISK, THE SACRIFICE IT TAKES WHEN YOU SERVE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, LIKE THIS TROOPER HAS FOR SO MANY YEARS. AND EVAN, YOU MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE’VE LEARNED ABOUT HIM. YOU KNOW, JUST A KIND OF A TEDDY BEAR OF A MAN. SOMEONE SENT ME A PICTURE OF HIM DRESSED IN A BUNNY SUIT FOR EASTER, EASTER AT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. AND IT SAID THAT HE BRINGS A TON OF JOY TO KIDS AT THE HOSPITAL THERE AND JUST, JUST MADE IT FUN FOR KIDS AS AN EASTER BUNNY, HE SHOWED UP AS A SIX FOOT FIVE EASTER BUNNY. AND YOU KNOW, THE KIDS LOVED THAT. AND IT’S JUST, I MEAN, IT’S, IT’S A HEARTBREAKING LOSS ALL THE WAY AROUND. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS VEHICLE, JUST A MANGLED MESS AND A MOTHER AND CHILD WERE IN THAT VEHICLE AS WELL. AND AGAIN, WE’RE, WE’RE WAITING TO LEARN ABOUT THEM AND TO HEAR THEIR STORY AS WELL. AND CERTAINLY EVERYONE IS HEARTBROKEN OVER THE LOSS OF THESE THREE FOLKS TODAY, INCLUDING AN OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPER. AS YOU SEE, THEY’RE GOING SOUTH NOW PAST FRONTIER CITY. JUST GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A REFERENCE POINT AS TO WHERE THEY ARE AS THEY HEAD SOUTH. I BELIEVE THEY’LL PROBABLY WHEN THEY GO TO 23RD OR PERHAPS I-44, YOU KNOW, THERE’S MULTIPLE WAYS TO GET THERE FROM THIS POINT, BUT THEY’RE GOING TO KEEP GOING SOUTH, AS YOU SEE RIGHT NOW ON YOUR SCREEN. THAT IS TROOPER VERNON BRAY. 20 YEARS ON THE FORCE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER. OBVIOUSLY WORKING IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS. AND IT WAS IT WAS A RANDOM. IT WAS A WOMAN SWERVING TO AVOID SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. THAT ENDED UP LEADING TO THIS TODAY. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIM AND HIS LEGACY, SERVING IN OUR STATE FOR DECADES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. DO YOU WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT AREA, AS YOU SAW IT, IS STILL A CRIME SCENE, THERE’S STILL A MASSIVE POLICE PRESENCE, AND I-35 IS SHUT DOWN IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. YOU’RE JUST ASKED TO AVOID THIS AREA ALTOGETHER. I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE STUCK IN TRAFFIC FOR A VERY LONG TIME TODAY THERE. AND AT THIS POINT, THEY’RE BEING DIVERTED OFF ONTO ONTO THE THE SIDE ROADS, THE SERVICE ROADS. AND YOU CAN SEE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS PROCESSION AS THE MOTORCYCLE OFFICERS LEAD THIS PROCESSION OF, OF A TROOPER WHO WILL BE GREATLY MISSED IN OUR STATE ON A PERSONAL AND A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL. THIS LEAVES A BIG HOLE. AND I’M GLAD YOU ALSO MENTIONED AS WELL AS WE PAY OUR TRIBUTE RIGHT NOW TO THIS TROOPER, THERE’S GOING TO BE MORE STORIES TO COME BECAUSE THERE WAS ANOTHER FAMILY THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE BROKEN TODAY. AND IT’S HORRIFIC. WHAT WHAT HAPPENED THERE? YOU SEE THE RECORDS, YOU SEE THE DAMAGE, THE FRAGILITY, YOU KNOW, OF, OF, OF, OF LIFE. AND SO WE’RE, WE’RE GLAD THAT YOU’RE HERE WITH US AS WE PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THIS TROOPER WHO WAS KILLED TODAY IN THE LINE OF DUTY AFTER 20 YEARS ON THE JOB. AND THIS IS A TROOPER WHO DEDICATED HIS TIME TO TO MOTOR, YOU KNOW, TO TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT ON THE ROADS AND TO SEE THAT THAT IS HOW HE PASSED AS HE WAS WORKING TODAY IN THE LINE OF DUTY, AS HE WAS KILLED IN A TERRIBLE CRASH. SO WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW? OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU MENTIONED, I-35 IS PROBABLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE SHUT DOWN BECAUSE IT’S A CRIME SCENE AND INVESTIGATION IS GOING TO BE UNDERWAY. IF YOU ARE IF YOUR TRAVELS LEAD YOU TO I-35 TODAY, JUST JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND. YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT THE HIGHWAY IS OPEN. IN FACT, I SENT A TEXT TO A FRIEND WHO I KNOW DRIVES HOME ON I-35. I SAID, I KNOW IT’S HOURS FROM NOW, BUT BUT IT MAY NOT FOR SURE BE OPEN BY THAT POINT. SO KEEP THAT IN MIND. THERE’S THE INVESTIGATION GOING ON INTO EXACTLY HOW THIS STARTED. AGAIN, THIS IS THEY WERE ASKING DURING AN EARLIER NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY, ASKING IF ANYBODY KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS VEHICLE THAT MIGHT HAVE DROPPED THE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT OR SOMETHING OFF A TRAILER ONTO THE ROAD. THERE WAS A QUESTION DID THE PERSON STOP AND RETRIEVE THAT AND THEN TAKE OFF? WAS, DID THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT THE PERSON WHO DROPPED THAT? EVEN KNOWING ABOUT IT, THINGS CAN FALL OFF OF BIG TRAILERS WITHOUT ANYBODY KNOW ABOUT IT. AND SO AS WE SEE ANOTHER LOOK HERE AGAIN, WE ARE LOOKING NORTH AS THIS PROCESSION IS COMING SOUTH ON 35 TOWARDS THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE NEAR THE STATE CAPITOL, AND THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION, CARRYING THE REMAINS OF STATE TROOPER VERNON BREAK. IT’S JUST IT’S HEARTBREAKING TO WATCH THIS PROCESSION AS IT MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH ON THIS INTERSTATE THAT’S BEEN SHUT DOWN, WHERE THIS OFFICER LOST HIS LIFE. THIS TROOPER LOST HIS LIFE. YOU SEE THE MULTIPLE AGENCIES THERE SHOWING UP TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS AND TO HONOR THIS TROOPER AS THEY TAKE HIM TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE. RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WERE IN THAT AREA AND YOU MENTIONED THE INVESTIGATION, ANY LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION COULD HELP OUT TROOPERS. SO IF YOU WERE IN THAT AREA THIS MORNING, YOU SAW SOMETHING, MAYBE YOU’RE NOT SURE IT WAS A BIG DEAL. CALL AND LET LET THEM KNOW. LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU SAW AS THEY ARE WORKING TO FIND A VEHICLE THAT MAY BE A PART OF THIS AS WELL. AS OUR CAMERA KIND OF PANS AROUND, YOU CAN SEE JUST CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS PROCESSION ALONG THIS ROUTE TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE ON 23RD, AND YOU CAN JUST BARELY SEE IT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW. BUT DO YOU SEE THE TRAFFIC THAT IS BACKED UP GOING NORTHBOUND? THAT’S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM AND A MESS FOR A LONG TIME. SO WE WILL TELL YOU THOUGH, THAT BEHIND THIS PROCESSION, WE’RE TOLD THAT THEY WILL BE OPENING UP I-35 AT LEAST IN SOME CAPACITY SOUTHBOUND. SO THAT WILL REOPEN AT LEAST A LANE OR TWO IS WHAT I’M BEING TOLD. I’M NOT SURE IF THE ENTIRE SOUTHBOUND WILL BE OPEN AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE I CAN UNDERSTAND IF THEY STILL NEED A LANE FOR THAT INVESTIGATION. BUT SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON 35 WILL REOPEN. IN FACT, YOU CAN SEE THERE SOME VEHICLES MOVING SOUTH. THOSE LOOK LIKE THEY ARE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES. THEY ARE FOLLOWING SLOWLY BEHIND AND NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC LOOKS LIKE IT’S GOING TO BE SNARLED FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AS THEY ALL HAVE TO FILTER IN AND EVENTUALLY GET OFF ON THOSE FRONTAGE ROADS, WHICH THANKFULLY ARE THERE IN THAT AREA. THAT’S, YOU KNOW, THAT’S, THAT’S VERY HELPFUL TODAY, BUT IT’S VERY SLOW. I-35 AND MAJOR THOROUGHFARE TRAFFIC FROM ALL OVER THAT’S MAKING ITS WAY, JUST MAKING ITS WAY SOMETIMES THROUGH OKLAHOMA. SO CAUSING A BIG BACKUP. I MEAN, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE TIME IT STARTED AROUND 1130 THIS MORNING, SO IT’S BEEN 3.5 HOURS AND IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE’S STILL A LARGE PRESENCE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. SO IF YOU KNOW ANYONE AS EVAN, YOU DID THE SAME THING. HE WILL BE MAKING THEIR WAY HOME IN JUST A FEW HOURS. JUST LET THEM KNOW TO TO STAY OUT. AND NOT ONLY IS THAT A CONVENIENCE FOR THEM, IT’S KIND OF LET THEM KNOW, HEY, DON’T WANT TO DRIVE INTO A TRAFFIC JAM, BUT IT ALSO HELPS OUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE CAN HAVE IN THAT AREA TODAY IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL TO, TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHO OBVIOUSLY HAVE A BIG JOB TO DO WITH WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT THEY WILL BE DOING THAT, THAT, THAT JOB WITH AS WE TAKE ONE MORE LOOK HERE AT AT THE SCENE THAT RIGHT THERE ON THE LEFT SIDE, AS SOON AS THIS CLEARS THAT WE BELIEVE IS THE SUV. YES, IT IS. OF THAT TROOPER VERNON BRICK WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME. THEY WERE ABOUT TO TOW IT AWAY FROM THE SCENE. WE SAW THAT MANGLED, SMALLER WHITE SUV THAT HAD CROSSED THE CENTER LINE AND COLLIDED WITH TROOPER BRICK’S VEHICLE. BUT THAT RIGHT THERE WAS THE SUV THAT TROOPER BRICK WAS IN WHEN HE WAS HIT AND KILLED. IF YOU ARE JUST NOW JOINING US, WE’VE BEEN ON THE AIR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT THIS POINT. AND LET’S RECAP EXACTLY WHAT WE KNOW. THIS IS THE VEHICLE, THE THAT EVAN WAS TALKING ABOUT A MOMENT AGO. JUST THE SMALLER SUV INVOLVED IN THE CRASH, AS WELL AS TROOPER BREAKS TROOPER PATROL VEHICLE THAT YOU SAW A MOMENT AGO THAT THEY’RE GOING TO BE TOWING. SO THIS HAPPENED AROUND 1130 AS A MOTHER AND A YOUNG CHILD, A FOUR YEAR OLD IN THAT WHITE MANGLED SUV, AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THAT THE MOTHER SWERVED TO MISS SOMETHING IN THE ROAD, THAT THAT SOMETHING MAY HAVE FALLEN OFF OF A VEHICLE, PERHAPS A TRAILER. AND THE MOTHER SWERVED TO MISS IT AND CROSSED THE CENTER BARRIER THERE ON I-35 WAS HEADED SOUTHBOUND AND CROSSED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND TROOPER VERNON, WHO’S BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR DECADES, JUST DRIVING ALONG, WORKING TODAY. AND HE WAS HIT IN AN INSTANT HEAD ON BOTH THE TROOPER AS WELL AS THE MOTHER AND CHILD DIED THERE ON THE SCENE. AND AS YOU LOOK AT JUST THE AWFUL. IT’S I MEAN, IT’S HORRIFIC TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING. BUT AT THIS POINT, THERE IS STILL AN INVESTIGATION THAT’S UNDERWAY. IT’S IT’S A CRIME SCENE. THE LOSS OF THREE PEOPLE TODAY, A TROOPER, A MOTHER AND A CHILD. AND RIGHT NOW AUTHORITIES ARE LOOKING FOR THIS VEHICLE THAT MAY HAVE DROPPED SOMETHING INTO THE ROAD. SO IF YOU SAW SOMETHING, IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING, PLEASE CONTACT AUTHORITIES. YOU KNOW, JUST WHEN I WAS, YOU KNOW, WE WERE REVIEWING WHAT HAD HAPPENED TODAY. WE WERE PREPARING TO COME ON WITH YOU GUYS, OUR VIEWERS. I ASKED WHAT TYPE OF VEHICLE WAS IT ASKING ABOUT THE MOTHER’S VEHICLE? AND THE ANSWER WAS WE, WE SIMPLY DON’T KNOW. AND WHEN YOU SEE THE VEHICLE, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE REALLY HAVE NO IDEA THE MAKE AND MODEL OF THAT VEHICLE. AND YOU’RE SEEING THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IT’S TAKING. YOU KNOW, IT’S NOT JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT ON SCENE. THERE’S ROAD CREWS, THERE’S PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE, THEY’RE HAVING TO WORK IN THIS HORRIFIC SITE WHERE PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES. AND OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE HAVING TO DO THAT JOB. I CAN’T IMAGINE HOW HARD THAT IT’S HARD JUST TALKING ABOUT IT HERE INSIDE A TV STUDIO. AND IT’S. BUT THEY’RE, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE, THEY’RE DOING WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO AND THEY’RE, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT MEMORY AS WELL. YEAH. THAT VEHICLE, IT’S ALMOST UNRECOGNIZABLE. SEEING IT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS CRASH RIGHT NOW. AND OUR HEARTS JUST GO OUT TO EVERYONE INVOLVED THERE ON THE CRIME SCENE, INVESTIGATING, WORKING THIS CRASH. BUT CERTAINLY THE LOVED ONES, THE FRIENDS, THE COWORKERS, AND OF COURSE, THE FAMILY MEMBERS, WE DON’T KNOW MUCH AT THIS POINT ABOUT THE MOTHER AND CHILD, BUT JUST I MEAN, THAT ALONE JUST BREAKS YOUR HEART TO HEAR THAT A MOTHER AND A FOUR YEAR OLD DIED ON OKLAHOMA ROADS THIS MORNING. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE TROOPER VERNON BREAK. WE KNOW THAT HE LEAVES BEHIND A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN, AND YOU JUST IT’S HARD TO FATHOM WHAT WHAT THEY’RE GOING THROUGH AT THIS MOMENT AND WHAT THAT PHONE CALL OR THAT I WOULD ASSUME MEETING FACE TO FACE WAS LIKE FOR THIS FAMILY WHO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE WHO WORKS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, THERE’S A RISK THAT COMES WITH IT. YEAH, BUT I’M SURE YOU DON’T EXPECT TO EVER GET THAT KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR. NO. AND WHAT MAKES THIS, IN A WAY, A DIFFERENT SHOT. THIS IS THIS IS AT 23RD AND KELLY THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE A WE’RE STILL ON THE AIR HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ON THE AIR WHEN THE PROCESSION REACHES ITS JOURNEY. THIS IS NEAR THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE AT 23RD AND KELLY. AND SO WE’RE STAYING ON THE AIR FOR THAT FOR FOR THAT REASON. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WHAT MAKES IT ALMOST EVEN MORE DIFFICULT IS JUST THE RANDOMNESS OF, OF THIS SORT OF THING. YOU KNOW, THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO TROOPER VERNON BREAK WAS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, AS IT’S BEING REPORTED RIGHT NOW, JUST A HORRIBLE, RANDOM, HORRIFIC TRAFFIC COLLISION THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. ANYONE, LITERALLY ANYONE. WE ARE DIFFICULT IN ITS OWN WAY. YES. AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT’S WHAT I WAS THINKING OF AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAYS TODAY. YEAH, IT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INSTANT. AND THAT’S WHY YOU ALWAYS HEAR PEOPLE SAY, YOU KNOW, HUG YOUR LOVED ONES, TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN WHEN THINGS COULD GO WRONG. RIGHT NOW WE DO HAVE A CREW AT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE. THE PROCESSION. AND OF COURSE, WE STILL HAVE A CREW THERE AT THE SCENE OF THIS CRASH AS THEY ARE WORKING TO LOAD, TROOPER VERNON BREAKS OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PATROL SUV ONTO THE BACK OF THAT TOW TRUCK, AND THEY WILL BEGIN TO CLEAR THE SCENE. IT COULD STILL TAKE SOME TIME AS THEY CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE. IT’S BEEN SEVERAL HOURS AT THIS

Procession honors trooper killed in crash on I-35 in Oklahoma City

A procession is underway Wednesday afternoon for an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper killed in a wreck along Interstate 35.

KOCO logo

Updated: 3:35 PM CDT Apr 8, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

A procession honored an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper killed in a crash Wednesday on Interstate 35 in OKC. Authorities said a trooper and two other people, including a 4-year-old child, were killed in a crash on Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City.The crash happened shortly before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on I-35 between Britton Road and Hefner Road. Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials said the incident is considered a crime scene. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, they a vehicle was carrying heavy equipment that fell onto the road. Officials believe another driver heading south on I-35 tried to miss it when she crossed a cable barrier and then hit the trooper on northbound I-35.The Oklahoma Highway Patrol confirmed that the trooper, the driver and her child were killed. Information about the woman and child have not been released. The trooper has been identified as Vernon Brake, who is survived by his wife and two children.Brake served the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for nearly 20 years, with a significant time assigned commercial motor vehicle enforcement. The interstate remains closed. Motorists are urged to avoid the area and find an alternate route.Top HeadlinesDamaging crash involving trooper shuts down I-35 in north Oklahoma CityWhat we know about the recovery mission for American woman who reportedly fell overboard in the BahamasPrincipal shot by former student in lobby of Pauls Valley High School: What we knowFormer FedEx driver pleads guilty to killing 7-year-old Oklahoma girl in TexasCeasefire is threatened as Israel expands Lebanon strikes and Iran closes strait again

OKLAHOMA CITY —

A procession honored an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper killed in a crash Wednesday on Interstate 35 in OKC.

Authorities said a trooper and two other people, including a 4-year-old child, were killed in a crash on Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City.

The crash happened shortly before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on I-35 between Britton Road and Hefner Road. Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials said the incident is considered a crime scene.

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, they a vehicle was carrying heavy equipment that fell onto the road. Officials believe another driver heading south on I-35 tried to miss it when she crossed a cable barrier and then hit the trooper on northbound I-35.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol confirmed that the trooper, the driver and her child were killed.

Information about the woman and child have not been released. The trooper has been identified as Vernon Brake, who is survived by his wife and two children.

Brake served the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for nearly 20 years, with a significant time assigned commercial motor vehicle enforcement.

The interstate remains closed. Motorists are urged to avoid the area and find an alternate route.

Top Headlines