Oklahoma – An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper was praised after helping two German teenagers get out of extreme heat following a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 35 in Logan County.
Trooper Konner Dowell, No. 460, was recognized by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol after J. Todd Crosby shared his experience and thanked the trooper for going above and beyond to help his family.
According to Crosby, he had picked up his granddaughter and her friend from Will Rogers Airport after they returned from a flight from Germany. The group was traveling toward Stillwater when grass fires in Logan County contributed to congestion, hard braking and a crash on I-35.
Crosby said his truck was rear-ended and pushed into another vehicle, leaving the truck inoperable. The crash occurred while temperatures were around 106 degrees.
Although no one was seriously injured, the extreme heat created another concern for those involved. Crosby said the wrecker responding to the scene only had room for one passenger.
With his granddaughter and her friend having just arrived in the United States for the first time, Dowell offered to transport the two teenagers to Crosby’s home so they could get out of the heat.
The two teenagers, who had recently traveled from Germany, were able to leave the scene with Dowell and reach a cooler environment while arrangements were made following the crash.
Crosby described the experience as an unexpected and memorable introduction to the United States for the teenagers, despite the circumstances surrounding the crash.
“For two German teenagers this was quite the cool experience outside of the crash of course,” Crosby said.
He also emphasized that no one was badly injured in the crash, saying that was ultimately what mattered most.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol thanked Crosby for sharing his story and for his kind words about Dowell.
“We’re so glad everyone is safe and that Trooper Dowell was able to help your granddaughter and her friend get home safely out of the heat,” the agency said.
Crosby ended his message by thanking the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for going above and beyond, adding that Dowell would likely become the subject of conversation on German TikTok.
The incident highlighted the role troopers can play beyond responding to crashes and enforcing traffic laws, particularly when motorists and passengers are left in dangerous conditions along Oklahoma highways.
Oklahoma trooper praised for "going above and beyond" after I-35 crash leaves family stranded in 106-degree heat and tow truck unable to take everyone
