Two Teens Killed In Early Morning Crash Near Tahlequah

Two teens were killed after being thrown from the bed of a pickup truck in an early morning wreck in Cherokee County on Saturday.

According to a report by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, a 2003 Ford pickup driven by 22-year-old Ryan Molina was heading westbound on Petit Bay Rd., about six miles south of Tahlequah, Okla., at a high rate of speed at around 3:45 a.m.

There were seven passengers in the truck, three in the cab with the driver and four in the bed, all ranging in ages from 14 to 23. Troopers investigating the scene say the truck failed to stop at a stop sign at Indian Rd. and went into a broad slide before striking a tree.

One passenger inside the truck, 22-year-old Christian Hooper, was ejected from the vehicle, along with all four passengers in the truck bed: Casey Kelly, 15, Haley Seal, 16, Paul Blevins Jr., 19, and Michael Rogers, 14.

Both Blevins and Rogers were pronounced dead at the scene from the injuries they sustained after being ejected. Both were taken to Green Country Funeral Home.

Hooper was taken to Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah where he was treated and released. Kelly was taken to Tahlequah City Hospital where she was treated and released.

Seal was taken to Muskogee Eastar Hospital, then transferred to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa where she is listed in stable condition.

One passenger inside the truck, 18-year-old Micah Holcomb was life-flighted to St. John's Hospital in Tulsa where he is listed in critical condition.

The driver, Molina, was first taken to Tahlequah City Hospital, then transferred to St. Francis Hospital where he was treated and released.

Another passenger inside the truck, 23-year-old Toland Bitsilly of Newcomb, N.M., was not injured. All of the rest of the passengers were from Tahlequah.

Molina was the only person inside of the vehicle who was wearing a seatbelt. OHP troopers are still investigating the cause of the crash.