CHOCTAW COUNTY, OK -- The names of the two law enforcement officers involved in a fatal crash in Choctaw County Thursday night have been released.
Authorities say Choctaw County Sheriff's Deputy, 47 year old Brian Hayden, was killed when he collided with Choctaw Nation Tribal Officer, 29 year old Josiah Moore. Moore was critically injured. It happened on Highway 70, about three miles west of Soper.
Investigators are not sure exactly what caused the crash yet. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says they're still investigating. The sheriff says both men were headed to the scene of a shots fired call, when Hayden tried to turn left onto a county road. Moore, who was following behind, swerved, and hit Hayden's driver side door.
Reports show both officers were pinned in their vehicles for some time. Hayden was pronounced dead at Hugo hospital, and Moore was flown to a Plano, Texas hospital. Officials tell us Moore is okay, and will be released from care within the next couple of days.
Choctaw County Sheriff Lewis Collins says Hayden spent most of his life in law enforcement. He says Hayden was only with the Choctaw County Sheriff's Office for about 4 months, but even though he was only there for a short while he made a big impact.
"Hard worker, very energetic, good to people. He was a good guy to be around," Collins said.
Before coming to the sheriff's office, Collins says Hayden served as an officer in Nicoma Park near Oklahoma City.
Deputy Hayden is survived by his wife and four children.
Agency Contact Information
Sheriff Lewis Collins
Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office
305 East Jefferson Street
Hugo, OK 74743
A fund has been set up for Hayden's family at the First Bank in Hugo:
Brian and Tabitha Hayden
First Bank
1501 E. Jackson
P.O. Box 609
Hugo, OK 74743
