Alcohol A Factor In Grand Lake Wreck That Killed Three

An autopsy shows that the driver of a sport utility vehicle that plunged about 80 feet down an embankment into Grand Lake was under the influence of alcohol.

Friday, January 17th 2014, 6:23 pm

By: Dee Duren

Alcohol A Factor In Grand Lake Wreck That Killed Three

The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's report shows that the driver of a sport utility vehicle that plunged about 80 feet down an embankment into Grand Lake was under the influence of alcohol.

Autopsy reports were released Friday, January 17 on the wreck that took place November 21, 2013.

The driver of the vehicle, 22-year-old Ky Collins had a blood alcohol level of .19 percent, according to a toxicology report.

Passenger Jake Olsen of Grove had also been drinking before the wreck and had a blood alcohol content of .21 percent. Michael McKinney, a 24-year-old man from Brookings, Oregon, had a BAC of .15 percent. He had also taken an antihistamine.

Three young men died in the wreck that was investigated by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. They were in a GMC Yukon that missed a turn, crashed through a guardrail and down a bluff at about 9:30 p.m. A passerby called in the wreck after seeing a damaged guard rail along Blue Bluff Harbor.

The SUV landed on its top in about 12 feet of water. Divers braved very cold temperatures to recover the young mens' bodies in a two-day effort.

Dr. Andrea Wiens listed the cause of the three deaths as multiple blunt impact injuries and drowning as a result of an automobile wreck.