Hit & Run Accidents Are Peak Lawton

Lawton is known for many things. Gateway to the Wichita Mountains, the availability of amazing Indian tacos, the good 'ole boy network, and dim-witted politicians.

It's a small leap from what Lawton was known for thirty years ago... Pawn shops, violent crime, fast food, the good 'ole boy network, and dim-witted politicians... but there's one thing that is somehow talked about by no one and everyone at the same time.

Hit-and-run accidents.

I'll tell you hwaht, I can remember my first Lawton hit-and-run accident like it was yesterday...

The line at Taco Bell on Sheridan was too long, so I figured I'd pop inside since it looked empty. Parked my truck and headed in to order. The whole process took maybe six minutes. The moment I walked out the door with my tacos and frozen Mountain Dew, I instantly noticed someone backed into my truck.

Even worse, when I looked around, there was nobody standing there with an apologetic look on their face. No note, no sorry, not even a fake business card.

Shenanigans. I headed back to work to angrily eat my sad tacos and shared my story with a coworker.

Do you know what they said that made me eventually feel better about it?

"Welcome to Lawton. You're officially one of us now."

In the decade since it happened, I can't tell you how many stories I've heard of hit-and-run accidents over the years. Honestly, I probably hear four a month, even during the pandemic when we all stayed home for the most part.

Hit-and-run accidents have become so common that as long as nobody was hurt or killed, the police department won't hardly even come to take your statement or offer a police report.

Word is they'll tell you that it happened on "private property," which is also weird. As the car club guys know, LPD will sure pull up and question you while hanging out on private property as if they suddenly had that kind of authority, won't they?

If you've been made a victim of a hit-and-run accident in Lawton, just look at it as your baptism to becoming a Lawtonian. The fun stuff is on the Westside. The whiners live on the Eastside. I hope you like Chinese food and wasteful local government spending.