Rep. Mike Christian
House Media Division
Rep. Mike Christian has filed an amendment to House Bill 1965 that would name the law in honor of two state troopers hit by a vehicle in January while investigating an overturned semi on Interstate 40 near Shawnee.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Nicholas Dees was killed and Trooper Keith Burch was injured in the accident.
Christian filed the amendment to House Bill 1965, by state Rep. Terry O’Donnell (R-Catoosa), which would prohibit texting, emailing or using instant messaging while driving.
Rep. Christian said Oklahoma Highway Patrol Chief Rick Adams, Pontotoc County District Attorney Chris Ross and other sources with knowledge of the investigation have revealed to him that the driver, Steven Clark, was distracted just before the accident because he was updating his social media pages while he was driving. Clark has been charged with first-degree manslaughter.
“The senseless and tragic death of Trooper Dees and the catastrophic injuries to Trooper Burch are what compelled me to file this amendment,” said Christian, R-Oklahoma City, who hand delivered a copy of the amendment to Burch in his hospital room. “Hopefully, this incident will raise the type of awareness we need to bring an end to texting while driving.”
House Bill 1965 passed out of the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee yesterday by a unanimous vote and now awaits a hearing on the House floor.
