Published: November 13, 2009 03:32 pm      

Konawa officer hurt in chase

By Talina Turner

Managing Editor

KONAWA — A Konawa police officer was injured when his patrol unit crashed during a pursuit Thursday afternoon.

Officer Les Carter began pursuing Travis Lee Sellers, 39, Konawa, for an expired license plate. Sellers refused to stop when Carter activated his lights.

Konawa Police Chief Brad Morgan said the chase began around 4:39 p.m. inside Konawa city limits on east Main Street before going north on “Old Highway 99.”

According to the video in Carter’s patrol unit, the chase turned from paved roads onto gravel roads. Sellers attempted to slow to make a left turn. The video shows Sellers’ vehicle sliding while dust clears.

Through the dust, Carter’s patrol unit also appears to slide and collides with the back driver’s side of Sellers’ vehicle.

“Officer Carter couldn’t stop in time,” Morgan said to Konawa council. “I don’t see anything at this point that shows Officer Carter doing anything wrong.”

Carter was taken to Valley View Regional Hospital with chest pain after the collision. He was reportedly treated and released from the hospital last night.

Sellers was arrested on suspicion of attempting to elude a police officer and possession of drug paraphernalia. Morgan said he would like to pursue felony charges due to Sellers placing the public in danger during the pursuit.

During Konawa’s City Council meeting Thursday evening, Morgan was given permission to either dispose of or fix the wrecked patrol unit with City Manager Rita LoPresto’s approval and depending on the insurance assessment.

“We don’t think it’s drivable,” LoPresto said about the 2003 Crown Victoria unit.