Laverne Police Officer Killed When Car Crashes, Catches Fire

William "Charley" Coen, a police officer for the city of Laverne, Oklahoma, and a reserve deputy for the Harper County Sheriff's Office, died in a car crash June 10 while on duty.

Coen was responding to a call for assistance early in the morning. He lost control while trying to negotiate a curve on Highway 64. His car left the road and struck several bales of hay. Coen was able to call for help, saying he was pinned in the car and needed an ambulance.

Emergency crews were immediately dispatched, but before they arrived the hay bales caught fire. Coen was trapped inside his vehicle and could not escape. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Coen had been with the Laverne Police Department since September 2010, and joined the Harper County Sheriff's Office in December 2011. He's survived by his wife and two children.

A funeral will be held for Coen on Friday, June 15, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Anadarko. There will also be a memorial service Friday, June 22, at Shackelford Hall at Laverne High School. It will begin at 2 p.m.

An account has been set up for donations to the Coen family at The First National Bank of Laverne. You can make donations payable to the Trinity Faith Fellowship/Coen.