Three troopers killed during the Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s “Darkest Day” were remembered during a memorial service Sunday afternoon at Boland Park in Caddo.
On May 26, 1978, troopers Houston F. “Pappy” Summers and Billy G. Young were killed in a shootout on a county road near Kenefic with McAlester Prison escapees Claude Dennis and Michael Lancaster.
The escapees then drove to Caddo in a pickup stolen from Russell Washington, whose life was spared, possibly because he had once allowed Dennis to hunt on his property.
They stopped at a Court Street residence and Lt Grimes and his partner, Lt. Hoyt Hughes, were hot on the trail of the escapees being guided by OHP pilot Lloyd Basinger.
One of them yelled at children, telling them to get out of the street and they were then ambushed by Dennis and Lancaster.
Grimes was killed and Hughes, who was wounded, returned fire with a 9 mm pistol and an AR-15. The escapees had taken cover behind thick foliage.
Mike Williams then an OHP 2nd Lt., was not present for last Sunday’s memorial service, however, he told Matt Swearengin in a 2003 interview what happened in the final moments of OHP’s Darkest Day.
“I pulled in and stopped and he (Hughes) comes out and he’s over the hood, ‘bam, bam, bam,’ and he empties that AR-15,” Williams said.
Hughes had previously fired his 9 mm pistol at Lancaster, mortally wounding him, and he eventually staggered and fell.
Dennis was darting in and out of bushes. Williams said he didn’t have time to get out and shoot.
“I’m on the accelerator and spinning my tires,” Williams said. “I’m gonna take him out with the patrol car.”
When Dennis went back behind the bushes, Williams slammed on the brakes of his patrol car and jumped out with an AR-15.
“He takes a few steps … I popped about three to four rounds,” Williams said. “He staggers and I pop three, four or five more.”
Williams said it was over in about 45 seconds.
“When that guy fell, it felt like you had dropped a paper napkin,” Williams said. “Everything was going in slow motion.”
In addition to the three troopers, five people were murdered by the escapees and Williams recalled during the 2003 interview that most bad guys give up or try to get away.
“These guys are different,” Williams said. “They killed everybody they came across.”
Retired OHP Lt. Col. Mike Grimes, brother of Pat Grimes, was among those who spoke during last Sunday’s memorial service. He said it was the worst day in the history of OHP but also was a learning experience.
“We learned a lot and made a lot of changes in the patrol that saved lives,” Grimes said.
