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Tayahua-Mendoza pulled over a car along I-40 and Garth Brooks Boulevard in Canadian County Friday morning for improper tag display, according to Oklahoma Highway Patrol. As Tayahua-Mendoza was speaking with the driver, a pickup truck sideswiped the deputy's vehicle before hitting the other car, which in turn, hit the deputy, OHP said.

"The vehicle that hit him threw Deputy Mendoza several feet into the air and into a ditch," said Flowers. "He had a broken bone in his hand, ankle, femur. He was tossed up in the air, had a concussion as well where he lost consciousness for a brief moment and was able to compose himself and call for help on the radio."

OHP said the driver of the truck that caused the crash may have been tired. As of Monday, OHP said the investigation remained ongoing.