A Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputy patrolling State Highway 99 south of Stroud spotted a car traveling in the wrong lane and pulled it over just in time, preventing what could have been a head-on collision. The traffic stop kept the vehicle from continuing any farther in the wrong direction, averting what authorities described as a potential disaster.
The incident was first shared by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, which posted about the deputy's quick action as a traffic safety reminder. The stop was also covered by KFOR, which reported that the deputy made the stop just in time to prevent the car from continuing farther in the wrong direction on the highway.
A Highway With a Painful History
Highway 99 south of Stroud has seen tragedy from wrong-way and left-of-center driving before. In January 2017, Sac and Fox Nation Police Officer Nathan Graves, who also served with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, was killed in a head-on collision on Highway 99 north of Stroud, according to the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial. The other driver had been attempting to pass in a no-passing zone.
Under Oklahoma motor vehicle statutes, driving left of center or the wrong way is addressed in state law, and driving on the wrong side of the road can serve as an aggravating factor in aggravated DUI charges, according to Justia Law. Highway 99 itself has long served as a key regional connector.
A Growing Statewide and National Problem
Wrong-way crashes have drawn increasing attention across Oklahoma and the country.
Oklahoma has also faced concerns about wrong-way driving.
Addressing Wrong-Way Driving
Wrong-way detection systems are one approach to addressing the mounting toll.
The Lincoln County deputy's intervention south of Stroud stopped the vehicle from continuing in the wrong direction.
