OHP Identifies Officers Killed During Washita County Chase

As a community mourns the loss of two law enforcement agents who were killed in a crash on Thursday, late Thursday night, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol released the names of the two officers killed in Washita County.

Kristian Willhight from the Burns Flat Police Department and Washita County Undersheriff Brian Beck were killed during a pursuit near Dill City.

1/23/2014 Related Story: Police: 3 Dead Including 2 Lawmen, In Oklahoma Chase

The officers were trying to serve a warrant on a suspect who took off and crashed, and also died. A short time later, Willhight and Beck crashed into each other and died.

On Thursday night, the small community came together to remember Undersheriff Brian Beck. They say he died doing what he loved, which was serving and protecting his community.

1/23/2014 Related Story: OK Communities Mourn The Loss Of Officers Killed During Chase

Beck leaves behind two young daughters. We're hoping to learn more about Officer Willhight on Friday.

News of what happened in Washita County is bringing back memories of a very similar incident here in Oklahoma City. It was 14 years ago an Oklahoma City Police Officer and an OHP Trooper died during a high speed chase near downtown.

The crash killed Officer Jeffrey Rominger and Trooper Matt Evans. Officer Rominger was in a pursuit of a car going the wrong way on I-40 when his vehicle collided with Evans' patrol car.

Shortly after the accident, officials discovered the officers had no way of communicating with each other on their radios.

The tragedy sparked an effort to update two-way radios between agencies across the state.

If you drive along I-40 near downtown on Friday, you'll see that a portion of the highway is now named after Officer Rominger and Trooper Evans.