OU Students Killed in Crash in Kay County During Severe Weather Friday Night
poncacitynow.com - April 30, 2022 3:46 pm
KAY COUNTY-A fatality collision occurred on Friday, April 29th at approximately 11:23pm on Interstate 35 near mile marker 214, southbound, near Tonkawa.
The driver of a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan, Nicholas K. Nair, age 20, of Denton, TX was traveling southbound on Interstate 35 when the vehicle hydroplaned causing him to lose control and depart the roadway to the right. The vehicle re-entered the roadway and became disabled, blocking the outside lane.
A 2020 Freightliner Tractor Trailer driven by Christopher J. Spears, age 50, of Ocala, Florida was traveling south and struck the car.
Nair and passengers Gavin A. Short, age 19, of Grayslake, Illinois and Drake H. Brooks, age 22, of Evansville, Indiana, were pronounced dead at the scene by Tonkawa Fire and EMS from their injuries.
All three men were pinned for approximately 5 hours and 26 minutes inside the vehicle before Tonkawa Fire and EMS officials freed their bodies from the wreckage.
The three men are listed as University of Oklahoma students
Spears was transported by Tonkawa Fire and EMS to Blackwell Regional Hospital in Blackwell and treated and released.
The crash was investigated by Trooper Christopher Vaughan of the Kay County and Noble County detachment of Troop K and assisted by Lieutenant Phillip Ludwyck of Troop K, Trooper Tyler Langston of Troop K, Tonkawa Fire and EMS, and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
