OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA — Three people died Wednesday morning on Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City after a commercial vehicle lost debris in the roadway, causing a driver to swerve across the center cable barrier and strike an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper traveling in the opposite direction. The trooper, the driver, and a 4-year-old child were all pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash occurred at 11:27 a.m. on April 8, 2026, on I-35 between Britton Road and Hefner Road. A southbound vehicle swerved — believed to be in response to debris shed by a commercial vehicle — and crossed the cable barrier into northbound lanes. The vehicle struck Trooper Vernon Brake, who was traveling northbound. All three died at the scene.
Trooper Brake was a graduate of the 56th OHP Academy in 2006 and had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for nearly 20 years. He was assigned to Troop S, the commercial motor vehicle enforcement unit. He is survived by his wife and two children.
“Our department is heartbroken,” an OHP spokesperson said. “Our focus right now is on his family.”
What Investigators Believe Happened
OHP Trooper Mark Southall said investigators believe a commercial vehicle shed debris onto the southbound lanes shortly before the crash. “At some point, a commercial motor vehicle lost some type of equipment or load or some type of debris onto the roadway,” Southall said. It remains unclear whether the southbound driver swerved to avoid the debris directly or to avoid a traffic slowdown caused by it. OHP’s Traffic Homicide Unit is leading the investigation.
All lanes of I-35 between Britton Road and Hefner Road closed following the crash. Drivers were urged to use alternate routes.
Public Asked to Help
OHP is asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about the commercial vehicle that lost the debris to call OHP Communications at 405-425-2323.
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