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SHAWNEE, Okla. —
Two reserve Pottawatomie County sheriff’s deputies on duty with the warrant team were killed Friday night when their vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer rig on SH 39 east of Asher.

Numerous Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers were working the accident scene late Friday night about four miles east of U.S. 177 between Konawa and Asher, said Trooper Betsy Randolph, OHP spokeswoman.

Killed in the accident were Deputy Mike Roberts and Deputy Tim Lowry, said Pottawatomie County Sheriff Mike Booth.

Both were on duty serving arrest warrants, something they often did together as a team and were good at, the sheriff said.

“I want people to know what we’ve lost — these two incredible guys dedicated a great part of their lives to help keep Pottawatomie County safe,” the sheriff said late Friday night. “They’re going to be missed a lot.”

The patrol’s teletype with details about the accident wasn’t yet completed or available Friday night, but Booth said it appears the deputies were topping a hill in their vehicle when they encountered an oversized semi-truck in the roadway that was possibly turning.

Both deputies had served as reserves for many years, the sheriff said. The loss of both is hard on the brotherhood of law enforcement at the sheriff’s office “as tight of a group as we’ve become,” Booth said.

“Both were extremely dedicated — it’s a loss for Pottawatomie County, the sheriff’s office, law enforcement and the citizens,” Booth said. “They volunteered and spent an enormous amount of time getting bad guys off the street.”

He said he’ll remember their dedication, dependability and being experts at tracking down those with outstanding warrants.

“That’s what those guys were all about ­— keeping our county safe,” Booth said. “It’s what they did.”
As word of the accident spread, other law enforcement agencies called Booth offering both support and assistance to patrol the county and help in any way possible.

Randolph said an accident like this affects everyone in law enforcement as well.

“When one of us hurts, we all hurt,” she said, adding the patrol’s thoughts are with the families of the deputies and the community.