Bryan Co. Deputy killed in crash responding to emergency call

A Bryan County Sheriff's Deputy died in the line of duty while responding to an emergency call early Tuesday morning.

"I can't think of anybody that didn't like him. He was a very easy going guy. He was just one of the guys," said J.J. Semidey, who got to know Deputy Jarid Taylor through a Denison adult softball league.

Semidey says he wasn't surprised to hear Taylor left Denison to pursue a career in law enforcement in 2018.

"That's just the person he was, to all of us. He was always willing to help and always willing to be there for people," said Semidey.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Capt. Scott Hampton said Deputy Taylor, 31, was responding to a 911 call just after 6 a.m. when for unknown reasons his patrol vehicle left the roadway and hit a tree on Old Highway 70 east of Durant near Lone Oak Road.

"I looked out the window and we immediately called 911," said Yates Canipe, who lives less than 100 yards from where the crash happened.

He said his dogs barking after the crash woke him up.

"We raised up in to bed because if they're raising that much hell, something's wrong," said Canipe.

Troopers say Taylor died at the scene.

Troopers say the road was wet, and was foggy outside during the time of the accident.

Taylor, a native of Hendrix in Bryan County, leaves behind a fiancée and two young children, ages 6 and 5.

His body was escorted to west to Ardmore on US-70, then north to Oklahoma City on I-35 Tuesday morning.

"It's a very hard day. Its a tough day for all law enforcement, especially his brothers and sisters that he worked with," said Capt. Hampton.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

If you would like to help, the Calera Police Department is asking for snacks and drinks to be taken to the Murray Funeral Home in Durant.

They say departments will be there around the clock until Deputy Taylor is laid to rest at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday at at Kemp Baptist Church.

You can make a donation to the family to any Sherman or Denison First United Bank location.

A GoFundMe has also been set up for his family:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/deputy-jarid-039jt039-taylor?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR0HDKwUH6vchZU-e0TQRcco7U7tRuwINUAkADQ26dCnRjhoANeMAdte5IY