The early morning quiet of **El Reno, Oklahoma**, was shattered just before **2:00 a.m. Saturday** when a hit-and-run driver struck **Sergeant Thomas Duran**, a veteran member of the **El Reno Police Department**, leaving him critically injured on **Watts Street near Wilson Street**. Moments earlier, Duran had stopped to help a pedestrian who flagged him down for assistance—an act of duty and compassion that ended in tragedy.
As the sergeant and the pedestrian stood roadside talking, a vehicle came speeding through the dark and slammed into Duran with such force that he was thrown to the pavement. The driver never slowed down, never stopped—simply vanished into the night. The same person who had asked for help moments earlier became
the one desperately trying to save Duran’s life, pulling him out of the roadway and immediately calling **911 Emergency crews arrived within minutes and provided on-scene medical aid before **airlifting Sergeant Duran to the University of Oklahoma Health Center**. Despite extensive efforts by trauma surgeons, Duran succumbed to his injuries, leaving his colleagues and community in mourning.
The **El Reno Police Department** described Duran as a deeply respected officer with years of dedicated service and a reputation for compassion, professionalism, and courage. “He was the kind of officer you’d hope would show up if you needed help,” one colleague said.Authorities are now searching for the hit-and-run driver, urging anyone with information or surveillance footage from the area to come forward.
For a small Oklahoma city that prides itself on community and service, the loss cuts deep—a beloved officer struck down while doing exactly what he’d always done: answering the call to help someone in need.The investigation continues as residents leave flowers and notes outside the police station, honoring Sergeant Duran’s ultimate sacrifice.
