The Oklahoma Highway Patrol began conducting a special emphasis on distracted driving Jan. 17 that will last through the end of the month.

The mobilization is dedicated to and inspired by Trooper Nicholas Dees, who was killed by a distracted driver Jan. 31, 2015. This year’s effort marks the 10th anniversary of honoring his life and sacrifice.

Dees and Trooper Keith Burch were investigating a collision involving a tractor- trailer on Interstate 40 in Seminole County near the Pottawatomie County line. While both troopers were standing outside their patrol units, a driver failed to yield to their warning lights, and traveled into the collision scene, striking both troopers. Dees died instantly. Burch received serious injuries and has since retired.

Steven Wayne Clark was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and spent five years in prison. He is currently out on probation. During the course of the investigation, phone records revealed Clark had been sending and receiving messages in the miles leading up to the crash.

At his sentencing hearing in Wewoka, the deceased trooper’s widow, Brandi Dees, left the courtroom in tears. She had asked the judge to impose a life sentence. Prosecutors had asked for 20 years in prison. Then Seminole County District Judge George Butner said he labored over his decision, noting that some wanted Clark to be sentenced to life in prison while others thought he should be released.

Clark was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. He was told that he cannot drive while on probation and cannot have a cellphone unless it is one that can only be used to call 911.

The case led to the “Trooper Nicholas Dees and Trooper Keith Burch Act of 2015” which states in part “It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on any street or highway within this state while using a handheld electronic communication device to manually compose, send, or read an electronic text message while the motor vehicle is in motion.”

Distracted driving emphases will be conducted in troops throughout the state, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, during the last two weeks of January. Troopers will focus their daily enforcement on distracted driving laws.