Sgt. Lee Frisendahl, 54, of Enid, was killed Monday afternoon when the vehicle he was riding in was struck at an uncontrolled intersection in Garfield County, Oklahoma. Frisendahl, a longtime Enid police officer, was riding as a passenger when the two vehicles collided near Enid. Both drivers were injured.
The crash happened at about 4:31 p.m. at County Road 90th and East Robertson Road. The intersection does not have traffic control signs. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, a 46-year-old woman was driving north on County Road 90th when her vehicle was hit in the passenger-side door by a westbound vehicle driven by a 63-year-old man from Cushing.
Frisendahl was seated on the passenger side of the northbound vehicle, putting him directly in the path of the impact. He suffered fatal injuries in the collision and was pronounced dead. The two drivers also suffered injuries, though authorities did not report further details about their conditions.
OHP said everyone involved in the crash was wearing a seat belt. The circumstances that led to the vehicles reaching the intersection at the same time remain under investigation. Authorities have not said which driver had the right of way or determined what caused the crash.
For the Enid Police Department, the loss involved more than an officer who had spent years wearing the badge. Frisendahl served with the department for 19 years and often worked the night shift. He was also known for helping and mentoring other officers during his career.
Frisendahl had built a life outside police work as well. He worked as a real estate agent and auctioneer. Recent property listings show that he remained active in real estate work in the Enid area. He had also faced serious personal challenges, having battled Stage 3 cancer twice and survived both diagnoses.
Now, the circumstances of his death are being left to investigators to sort out. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is handling the crash investigation, and no final finding has been announced about what caused the collision. For a veteran officer who spent 19 years serving Enid, Monday’s crash ended a career and a life that had already survived two major battles with cancer.
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