Monday afternoon on the Will Rogers Turnpike (Interstate 44 eastbound) just east of the Miami exit, a tragic collision occurred involving an Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) work crew.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a semi-truck traveling eastbound drifted off the roadway to the right, striking an OTA employee who was on foot collecting debris. The truck then struck a parked OTA vehicle that had another employee inside.
The OTA employee on foot was killed. The employee inside the truck was critically injured and transported to a hospital in Joplin for treatment.
The semi-truck driver was uninjured and has been cooperative with the investigation. He stated to investigators that he had dropped a device and was attempting to retrieve it when he drifted from the roadway.
This was a preventable tragedy. Nothing is more important than focusing on what is happening in front of you and around you while driving. A single moment of distraction can cost lives and change families forever.
The men and women who maintain and protect our highways are our partners. OTA crews are always quick to provide assistance when we call, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol values the strong connection we share with them in serving the public. The troopers who work alongside these crews on the turnpikes will deeply feel this loss.
We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the workers involved and to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. This investigation is still in its early stages, and once complete, the findings will be submitted to the appropriate legal authority for review. The information being released at this time is preliminary and subject to change as the investigation continues.
