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Incident
Trooper Evans was en route to assist another State Trooper in a drug-related traffic stop. On a different call, Oklahoma City Police Officer Jeff Rominger had just begun chasing a vehicle on I-40. During the chase a tractor-trailer topped a hill and collided with the suspect’s vehicle. Officer Rominger’s vehicle and Trooper Evans vehicle then crashed into the tractor-trailer and the suspect’s vehicle. All four vehicles became engulfed in flames. Trooper Evans was trapped inside his cruiser and pronounced dead at the scene. Officer Rominger died en route to the hospital.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Trooper Evans gave the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Evans.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Oklahoma Highway Patrol has lost 39 officers; 17 of them lost to accidents.
Matthew is one of 135 officers lost to accidents in OK, 23.2% of the 582 remembered there.
Matthew is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Matthew is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2000, 1 officer at Oklahoma Highway Patrol was lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 12 years on record. The heaviest was 1978, with 3.
In 2000, 3 officers in OK were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 78 years on record. The heaviest was 1980, with 4.
In 2000, 85 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 19th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2000, 91 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 35th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Matthew was 24. Of the 16 lost to accidents at Oklahoma Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 29.8 and 38.5; the middle age was 34.5. Matthew had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Matthew was 24. Of the 118 lost to accidents in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48.8; the middle age was 38. Matthew had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Matthew was 24. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Matthew had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Matthew was 24. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Matthew had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 11.8% of these deaths at Oklahoma Highway Patrol; July holds the most, 23.5%. Thursdays: 29.4%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in OK; March holds the most, 12.6%. Thursdays: 21.5%.
August holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 43.6% of all 39 deaths at Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 23.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Oklahoma Highway Patrol has 39 officers remembered here, Matthew among them.
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Sam R. Henderson
May 7, 1941
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James A. Long
Jul 12, 1942
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Theo Cobb
Jun 24, 1951
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Johnnie Whittle
Sep 14, 1953
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John Richard Barter
Jan 29, 1959
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Howard M. Crumley
Jun 28, 1970
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Larry Bruce Smith
Jan 29, 1971
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William James Walker
Feb 17, 1971
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Robert Eugene Ake
Sep 18, 1972
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Thomas F. Isbell
Dec 21, 1972
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J. C. Magar
Jun 29, 1975
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Larry Verne Crabtree
Apr 4, 1977
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Cell C. Howell
Apr 27, 1977
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James Pat Grimes
May 26, 1978
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Billy G. Young
May 26, 1978
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Houston F. Summers
May 26, 1978
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Rondal Ray Alexander
Jul 3, 1978
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Richard Dean Oldaker
Jul 3, 1978
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Kenny Lee Osborn
Jul 13, 1978
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Kenneth Dean Strang
Mar 1, 1980
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Edward A. Elliott
Aug 22, 1980
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Travis Leon Bench
Oct 5, 1983
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Guy David Nalley
Oct 27, 1984
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James A. Hayes
Jul 10, 1988
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Randy Joe Littlefield
Jan 15, 1990
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Duane Lee Grundy
Apr 11, 1990
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Joseph Earl Nicolle
Jul 26, 1990
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David Warner Eales
Sep 24, 1999
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Matthew Scott Evans
Aug 31, 2000
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Christopher Michael Van Krevelen
Nov 28, 2002
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Nikky Joe Green
Dec 26, 2003
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Steven Roy Smith
Feb 9, 2006
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William Lloyd McClendon
Oct 1, 2006
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George C. Green, Jr.
Oct 26, 2010
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Nicholas Glenn Dees
Jan 31, 2015
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Donald Heath Meyer
Jul 24, 2017
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Daniel Boyd Martin
Apr 23, 2018
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Jeffery Wade Sewell
Sep 26, 2020
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Vernon Brake
Apr 8, 2026
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-W
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