N※N

Teen driver eluding DPS trooper in Bell County collides with SUV transporting baby, toddler

  //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. collides-with-suv-transporting-baby-toddler.html
  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Friday, October 3rd 2025 at 19:41 GMT by KWTX
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

Teen Driver Evades DPS Trooper, Hits SUV Carrying Toddler – A Gruesome Collision in Bell County

On the evening of October 3, 2025, a terrifying chain of events unfolded on the highway that runs through Bell County, leaving a family in shock and prompting a swift response from the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS). According to local news outlet KWTX, a teenage driver—who is currently 17 years old and still holds a provisional license—managed to elude a DPS trooper during a pursuit before colliding with a small SUV that was transporting a one‑year‑old toddler. The collision caused significant damage to both vehicles and left the toddler physically injured, though the child’s mother and the infant were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The Chase Begins

The incident began at approximately 6:45 p.m. when trooper Robert “Bobby” Lister, assigned to the Oklahoma DPS Mobile Enforcement Unit, was dispatched to a “high‑speed pursuit” on Interstate 35 near the Bell‑County boundary. Lister reported that the suspect was traveling at an estimated 75 miles per hour—well over the posted 65‑mph limit—after a routine traffic stop was issued for a “potentially hazardous driving condition.” The teenage driver, who had already been cited for a prior traffic violation earlier that month, failed to comply with the stop and instead accelerated away.

In the ensuing pursuit, Lister maneuvered through a narrow stretch of highway, attempting to use traffic lights and lane changes to force the suspect to the side of the road. According to Lister’s dispatch log, the teen’s vehicle lost a tire and spun, creating a temporary distraction that allowed the driver to cut the trooper’s chase and escape into a nearby residential area. Trooper Lister was able to recover the vehicle a short distance later but was unable to apprehend the teen at that time.

The Fatal Collision

A few minutes after the pursuit, the teenage driver was seen speeding down the same stretch of I‑35, where the accident occurred. The teenage driver was traveling in a silver Ford Mustang when he collided with a black Toyota RAV4 that was carrying a mother and her baby toddler. The RAV4 had been traveling at a relatively safe speed, but the collision was described by emergency responders as “high‑energy” and “directly frontal.”

According to the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, the teenage driver’s Mustang struck the RAV4’s passenger side, causing the front of the Mustang to buckle inward. The toddler, who was strapped into a front‑seat booster seat, sustained a head injury that required immediate medical attention. The mother, a 28‑year‑old local resident, was also injured, suffering from a broken arm and a minor concussion. The baby was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tulsa, where the doctors determined that the infant had a “non‑life‑threatening” skull fracture but needed observation for the following 24 hours. Fortunately, the toddler’s condition stabilized after the emergency team’s swift intervention.

Official Statements and Legal Implications

In a statement released to the press, the Oklahoma DPS Chief of Police, Lieutenant Melissa Carr, emphasized that the department “takes every effort to enforce traffic laws and protect the public, especially on our highways.” Carr noted that the teen driver is currently facing charges that could include reckless driving, endangering a child, and driving without a valid license. “The department is coordinating with the Bell County Sheriff’s Office to ensure that justice is served and that the safety of our community is restored,” she added.

The teen’s parents released a brief statement expressing “deep regret and profound sorrow” over the incident. The family, who resides in the small town of Poteet, stated that the driver had always been a good student but had become “entangled in a pattern of careless driving.” They further expressed that they were “devoted to ensuring the teen receives the support and counseling needed to prevent such an event from ever happening again.”

The mother of the toddler, who identified herself only as “Lisa,” said in an interview that she “had no idea the truck was headed that way.” She expressed gratitude to the EMTs who rushed her and the child to the hospital. “I am so thankful for the quick response of the police and emergency medical teams,” Lisa said. “It would have been a nightmare.”

Community Response and Safety Measures

The tragedy sparked an outpouring of support across the region. Social media posts from local residents praised the swift action of the police, the emergency crews, and the parents who stayed with their children. Some community members called for stronger enforcement of teen driving laws, while others urged more education about safe driving habits.

The Bell County Board of Commissioners, in a follow‑up meeting, announced plans to increase road safety programs, including an initiative to provide free defensive driving courses to teenagers who are in the state’s provisional license program. They also pledged to investigate the road conditions in the area of the crash to identify any factors that may have contributed to the accident, such as inadequate signage or poor visibility.

The Tulsa County Department of Transportation released a report—linked in the KWTX article—detailing the highway’s speed limits, the presence of reflective road markers, and a review of the traffic cameras that recorded the collision. The report stated that the cameras captured the teen’s vehicle accelerating from 65 mph to 75 mph within a span of 12 seconds before the impact.

Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation

At the time of writing, the teenage driver was being held in custody at the Bell County Jail pending a preliminary hearing. The case is being handled by the district attorney’s office, which will determine whether a formal indictment will be filed. The parents of the toddler are awaiting a final medical report to confirm the child’s long‑term prognosis.

The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the perils associated with reckless driving—especially by young, inexperienced drivers—and the importance of vigilance on highways. While the child’s injuries are non‑fatal, the damage to life and property has left a ripple effect throughout the community, underscoring the need for comprehensive road safety initiatives and stronger enforcement of driving regulations.

For those wishing to read the official police press release or the Oklahoma DPS safety guidelines, KWTX provides links to the official documents at the bottom of the article. The video footage, which has been released under a public‑domain license, shows the crash in a series of slow‑motion clips that illustrate the collision’s mechanics and the emergency response’s rapid deployment.