Canadian County Deputy seriously injured after being struck while on traffic stop

Описание: Incident: On January 5, 2024, Mason Treat was pulled over on I-40 by a Canadian County deputy for a missing license plate. While stopped, another vehicle struck Mason's car, causing severe injuries including brain bleeding, fractured ribs, and lung damage.

The driver of the truck was "tired," but otherwise not impaired.

The deputy, Jose Tayahua-Mendoza, was also seriously injured during the incident. It was also learned that this deputy was relived of his duties in November of 2024 for a matter unrelated to this accident. He found a large amount of marijuana in a car during a traffic stop and failed to issue any citations or make any arrests.

The father of Mason Treat is former Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat. In September of 2025, he filed a lawsuit:

Allegations against the Sheriff's Office: The lawsuit claims the Canadian County Sheriff's Office (specifically through the actions of the deputy) unnecessarily and unreasonably prolonged the roadside stop, keeping Mason in a dangerous position for 14 minutes for a minor issue.

The suit also names the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) for allegedly delaying medical aid to Mason for approximately 10 minutes after the crash, as well as the driver of the truck and his employer.

The Treat family is seeking damages in excess of $75,000 for medical costs, physical injuries (including brain swelling and broken ribs), and emotional trauma.

As of March 2026, the lawsuit filed by former Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem
Greg Treat
against the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office remains in active litigation.

While the lawsuit continues, Greg Treat successfully passed the Mason Treat Act, which went into effect in September 2024 to reduce the time vehicles are on the road without permanent metal tags.