Trooper: DUI Cause Of Payne County Crash; Driver Had Kids In Car

By Brandi Ball, NewsOn6.com

PAYNE COUNTY, Oklahoma -- The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is citing alcohol as the reason for a St. Patrick's Day injury collision.

The driver had two children in the car, and neither were wearing seat belts, the report from OHP said.

Just after 5:30 p.m. Saturday, a 1999 Mercury four-door driven by Melissa Roberts, 30, of Perkins, Okla., was traveling westbound near 80th Street and Western Avenue in Payne County.

Roberts failed to stop and was struck on the front driver's side by a 2001 Ford Expedition, according to OHP.

Roberts was transported to Stillwater Medical Center and is in stable condition. She sustained head, leg and internal trunk injuries, according to the trooper's report.

There were two minors in the vehicle, the report said, a 6-year-old and 7-year-old. The 6-year-old was also transported to Stillwater Medical Center and is in stable condition. The 7-year-old was not injured.

OHP said neither Roberts nor her passengers were using seat belts.

The driver of the Expedition, Prince Siedu-Taku, 34, of Oklahoma City, was treated at Stillwater Medical Center and released with a neck injury. Siedu-Taku was wearing his seat belt, the collision report said.

The investigating trooper said there was an odor of alcoholic beverage on Roberts, and he termed the cause of collision as DUI.

Payne County Sheriff's Office, Perkins Fire Department, Perkins Police Department and Stillwater Emergency Management assisted in the collision.