Driver Critical After Truck Slams Into Tulsa Quarry Barrier

A man is in critical condition after crashing into a rocky barrier outside the APAC Quarry, 4600 North 129th East Avenue. The crash took place at the same spot where three people plunged to their deaths in 2009.

Police say a little after 2 a.m. they found a new Ford truck hung up on the additional boulders placed outside the quarry following that triple-fatality wreck. Sergeant Darren Bristow of the Tulsa Police Department said they believe the driver ran the stop sign at 46th Street North before hitting the barrier to the quarry drop off.

"The boulders are blocking an entranceway into a large rock quarry," he said.

Firefighters had to stabilize the truck on the boulders to make sure the truck didn't collapse as they freed the driver.

Bristow said the man was alert when emergency crews first arrived but then lapsed into unconsciousness.

"He moved the boulders approximately 3 feet," Bristow said, "but they did stop the truck. Probably 10 to 15 more mph, he might have probably cleared them."

Police say the barrier served its purpose, but it remains a dangerous area for drivers.

"This is not the first time we have been out here to this," he said. "This is probably a once-a-month thing."

10/15/2009 Related Story: Tulsa Quarry Wreck Lawsuit Filed By Victim's Family

Andrea Merriman, 21; 23-year-old Mark Gaches and 24-year-old Troy Adams were killed in the 2009 wreck.

Bristow said it's a rural area without much lighting.

"If you're not paying attention or you're intoxicated or sleepy, you can cross 46th Street North and go right into this quarry," he said.