Woman Steals Choctaw Fire Truck, Police Chase Ensues

A woman in Choctaw took a truck belonging to the fire department on a joyride this afternoon. The woman then led police on a chase, which ended in her arrest.

A fire truck with police in tow is usually how people see the vehicles blow by. People in Choctaw Friday afternoon may have seen a similar scene, but that caravan wasn't heading to a fire.

The day began while Choctaw firefighters checked their equipment and cars, like they do before every shift begins, only this time someone else took one of their trucks for a test drive.

The Choctaw fire trucks sat in the driveway, with the keys inside as crews looked them over.

"One of the firefighters was in the rear of another vehicle checking," said Choctaw Police Chief, Kelly Marshall.

Then a Choctaw police officer saw a fire truck blow by with a woman behind the wheel. Choctaw's fire crews are all men.

"Just as they noticed that the call came in, that a fire truck had been stolen," said Chief Marshall.

Chief Marshall said Nicole Dunford slipped into the brush pumper and took off. Dunford has also been on the Choctaw Police Department's radar.

"We've actually had calls on someone matching her description for the last day. One of our residents, she had been on her property in her cellar. We just hadn't been able to catch her," Chief Marshall explained.

Dunford hit about 65 mph in the truck as police followed, per Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office. It also made the pursuit a little easier as people pulled to the right for the flashing lights.

"On the plus side people were pulling over for the fire truck thinking that the fire truck was headed to an emergency," said Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer, Aaron Brilbeck.

But Dunford showed no signs of stopping, the pursuit even damaged the expensive emergency vehicle.

"At one point she from what I understand sideswiped a semi so it was getting dangerous," said Chief Marshall.

Thankfully, Chief Marshall said, Dunford came to the end of the road

"There was road work going on or this would have been a lot longer pursuit. She came right up to where the dirt work is," Chief Marshall said.

Officials believe meth played a factor. Dunford was arrested on a number of complaints including vehicle theft and eluding.