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Incident
Trooper Nicholas Dees was struck and killed by a vehicle near mile marker 195 on I-40, east of Shawnee.
He and another trooper were investigating a wreck involving a semi-truck on westbound I-40 at approximately 10:00 pm when a vehicle went around their patrol cars before striking both troopers. Trooper Dees died at the scene. The other trooper suffered serious injuries.
The subject who caused the crash was arrested and later sentenced to 5 years in prison and 7 years probation.
Trooper Dees had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for approximately 18 months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
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 Dees 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 Dees.
— 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.
Nicholas is one of 135 officers lost to accidents in OK, 23.2% of the 582 remembered there.
Nicholas is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Nicholas is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2015, 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 2015, 1 officer in OK was lost to accidents, the 39th heaviest of 78 years on record. The heaviest was 1980, with 4.
In 2015, 53 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 88th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2015, 55 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 96th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Nicholas was 30. 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. Nicholas had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Nicholas was 30. Of the 118 lost to accidents in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48.8; the middle age was 38. Nicholas had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Nicholas was 30. 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. Nicholas had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Nicholas was 30. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Nicholas had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 17.6% of these deaths at Oklahoma Highway Patrol; July holds the most, 23.5%. Saturdays: 11.8%.
January holds 6.7% of these deaths in OK; March holds the most, 12.6%. Saturdays: 11.1%.
January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
January holds 8.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
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 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Oklahoma Highway Patrol has 39 officers remembered here, Nicholas 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
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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