OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Newly released body camera video shows an Oklahoma City police officer being struck from behind during a traffic stop, a crash that authorities say led to the arrest of 22-year-old Uriel Sigala.
Police said the officer was rear-ended as he stood beside his vehicle, then watched the car keep rolling before it hit a nearby business. The officer appeared shaken but immediately checked on the driver and ordered him out of the car.
According to investigators, Sigala was taken into custody and booked into the Oklahoma County jail after the crash.
Police say the driver admitted drinking before the crash
Authorities said a search warrant for Sigala’s medical records indicates he admitted drinking two beers before the collision. Police also said he smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech, and nearly fell to the ground.
Those details were used to support the investigation into whether alcohol played a role in the wreck. Officers said Sigala was unable to safely continue through standard field checks.
The crash happened during a routine traffic stop, turning a roadside encounter into a more serious incident in a matter of seconds.
What the body camera footage appears to show
In the video, the officer is seen reacting quickly after being hit and getting out of the car to assess what happened. The vehicle that struck him keeps moving after the impact, adding to the danger of the scene.
Police said the car eventually collided with a nearby business. The footage also shows the officer moving toward the driver and telling him to get out of the vehicle.
Once at the car, the officer grabs Sigala by the arm and pulls him out, according to what can be seen in the released footage.
Sobriety testing and a refusal to take a breath test
Police said Sigala failed a field sobriety test and refused a breath test. Those steps are often used by officers to evaluate whether a driver is impaired after a crash or traffic stop.
The warrant details, along with the body camera video, form the core of the case authorities are presenting so far. At this point, officials have not said that formal charges have been filed.
For now, the arrest and booking into jail mark the most immediate legal step taken after the collision.
The officer was shaken but able to respond at the scene
The footage shows the officer visibly rattled after the impact, but still able to walk around the scene, check on the driver, and direct him out of the vehicle. That response helped prevent the encounter from becoming even more serious.
Police have not said how badly the officer was hurt, only that he was shaken up after being hit. The fact that the driver’s vehicle kept moving after the rear-end crash raised the risk of further damage.
The collision with the nearby business added another layer to the incident, though no additional injuries were described.
Arrest comes before formal charging decision
Sigala was booked into the Oklahoma County jail after the incident, but police said that as of the latest update he had not been formally charged. That means the case remains in an early stage as investigators continue to review evidence.
The release of the body camera video provides the public with a clearer view of how the encounter unfolded, from the initial impact to the officer’s response and the driver’s removal from the car.
Authorities have not released further details about what prompted the traffic stop before the crash.
Why the incident drew attention in Oklahoma City
Traffic stops can become dangerous in an instant, and this case highlights the risks officers face on the roadside when a passing vehicle fails to slow or stop in time. Here, the danger did not end with the first impact, since the car continued rolling and struck a business.
The video, combined with the allegations of alcohol use, has made the case especially notable for local viewers. It also underscores how quickly an ordinary stop can turn into a collision investigation, a possible impaired-driving case, and an officer safety issue all at once.
For now, the key facts are the arrest, the body camera footage, and the continuing investigation into what happened before and after the crash.
