Oklahoma Highway Patrol continues to monitor hazardous roadways amid Arctic conditions

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is monitoring hazardous and icy roads, responding to numerous injury and noninjury accidents across the state.

Wednesday, February 19th 2025, 8:26 am

By: Lisa Monahan


After back-to-back days of below-freezing conditions, several wrecks have happened on icy roadways across Oklahoma.

Law enforcement across the state is busy with keeping up with injury crashes, especially the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, who reported dozens of injury incidents along with over two hundred separate non-injury wrecks.

RELATED: Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports hundreds of wrecks due to winter storm

News 9's Lisa Monahan joined OHP Trooper Terry Hinkle again on Wednesday to ride along with the agency.

SEE ALSO: Oklahoma snowstorm impacts ride-along with Oklahoma Highway Patrol

According to OHP, the number of reported crashes has gone down so far on Wednesday, but troopers are still patrolling major interstates and roadways in the event they are needed.

"We are southbound on I-35 near Wilshire Boulevard ... The roads are clear," Monahan said. "These street crews have done an amazing job, the accidents have been very isolated."

Monahan said there are still slick spots to watch out for, and Hinkle says several vehicles involved in wrecks have been left on the side of the road.

"We're trying to do our best to put caution tape on them," Hinkle said. "If it's clear [of] the roadway, we don't necessarily have to have it removed right then and there. We're choosing to just leave it there and put some caution tape on it, that way... We'll take care of it at a later date."

When it comes to working long hours on the road, Hinkle said most troopers bring extra clothing to stay warm, something all drivers on the road should do as well.

"I've got extra stocking caps, hats, some warm clothes; we're in it for the long haul," Hinkle said. "We just try to do our best and stay warm. I have my stocking cap on today because the wind chill is brutal, and it doesn't take long for your bare skin to really get cold."

Lisa Monahan

Lisa Monahan is an award-winning journalist, born and raised in Oklahoma City, and thrilled to be working for the news station she grew up watching. She currently anchors at Noon and files special reports for News9.

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

February 19th, 2025

March 11th, 2025

February 24th, 2025

February 24th, 2025

Top Headlines

March 23rd, 2025

March 23rd, 2025

March 23rd, 2025

March 23rd, 2025