Passenger Killed When Trucker Runs Off Oklahoma Highway

A Texas man was killed in far southwestern Oklahoma overnight Sunday. He was the passenger in a semi truck troopers say went off the road and hit an embankment at about 3:18 a.m.

Frederick Q. Smith of Arlington was in a 2011 International going westbound on U.S. Highway 62 in Harmon County near Hollis. Driver Quentin Trunnell, 34, was very sleepy and drove off the side of the road about 250 feet before hitting an embankment, according to a report by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Smith, 45, died at the crash scene. Trunnell, a Dallas resident, was taken by medical helicopter to a Dallas hospital in serious condition with head and internal injuries.

Troopers say Trunnell was wearing a seat belt; they weren't sure if Smith was belted in. The cause of wreck is listed as driver inattention.

Part of the highway was closed for 11 hours, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.