Oklahoma Trooper Hayden Darst Injured in Fiery Crash During Ardmore Pursuit – September 22, 2025

In Ardmore, Oklahoma on September 22, 2025, Trooper Hayden Darst of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol sustained serious injuries when his vehicle overturned and caught fire during a pursuit of a fleeing suspect. The incident occurred after Ardmore police initiated a pursuit involving a suspect accused of shoplifting. Trooper Darst took over the chase and attempted a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI), during which both vehicles left the roadway. Darst’s patrol unit struck a culvert, overturned multiple times, and subsequently ignited.

Darst was trapped inside the wreckage but was rescued by responding Ardmore officers shortly before the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. He was transported to a local hospital, where he has undergone multiple surgeries and remains in recovery. The suspect involved was also treated and later booked into the Carter County Jail. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol continues to highlight the risks law enforcement officers face in high-speed pursuits.