El Reno officer hit by car and critically injured, driver arrested
EL RENO, Okla. (KFOR) - An El Reno police officer was taken to the hospital early Friday morning after he was hit by a car. The driver of the vehicle drove off but has since been arrested after officers located his vehicle.
"We took that call knowing it's one of yours, one of your own, and it's difficult. I mean, imagine even a loss or an injury to a family member," El Reno police chief Ken Brown said. "We're determined; we'll find this individual at some point."
Flashing lights filled a section of El Reno near Watts Street and Wilson Avenue around 2 a.m. Friday, as officers investigated a situation that put one of their own in the hospital. Brown said a resident flagged the officer down and as he was talking to him, a car believed to be a dark blue, four-door sedan left the road and hit him and then just drove away.
"The gentleman that he was talking with actually pulled him to safety and contacted the police headquarters, and that's when additional units responded," Brown said.
According to the department, the responding officer was Sgt. Thomas Duran, who is a 14-year veteran with the agency. He is currently hospitalized with critical injuries.
"All around good officer," Brown said.
He was taken to the hospital and placed in the intensive care unit at last check.
"It has a high impact on all the men and women that are that are working tonight and those that have come in. We put in a notification out to our officers, and every officer within the agency has contacted, 'What can we do? What can we help?' So we've come in looking for this car," Brown said.
Just before 10:25 a.m. on Friday, the El Reno Police Department says they located a vehicle matching the description that struck Sgt. Duran.
Following an interview, an officer arrested 25-year-old Logan Reese Primeaux, who has been charged with failure to stop at an accident resulting in great bodily injury, and assault and battery with a deadly weapon.
Primeaux is currently being held at the Canadian County Jail.