Two Killed In Custer County Pileup When Woman Drives Into Smoke

NewsOn6.com

CUSTER COUNTY – Two people died in a crash on I-40 in Custer County Wednesday, after a woman drove into heavy smoke from a nearby grassfire and caused a six vehicle crash.

It happened about 5 p.m. on mile marker 64 on I-40 in Custer County.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the interstate was covered with heavy smoke due to a nearby grassfire.

Troopers said 47-year-old Sherri Clark drove her 1996 GMC Jimmy into the smoke, lost control and overturned in the middle of the eastbound lanes of the interstate.

Troopers said five other vehicles then crashed into Clark's SUV. The crash caused some of the vehicles to catch fire.

Clark, of Foss, Oklahoma, was transported to an Oklahoma City hospital in stable condition.

Trooper said the driver of the second vehicle, 67-year-old Roy Rogers, of Clinton, Oklahoma, died at the scene. His passenger, 65-year-old Billy Ratliff, also of Clinton, Oklahoma, died en route to the hospital, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Troopers said a third vehicle, a tractor trailer, was completely burned. OHP said the driver of the vehicle, 28-year-old Eileen Glass, of Heber City, Utah, was transported to an Oklahoma City hospital in stable condition. Her passenger, 39-year-old James Glass, was taken by Medi-Flight to a hospital in serious condition, according to OHP. 

Troopers said the driver of another tractor trailer, 29-year-old Christopher Ruiz, of Montebello, California, was not injured. His passenger, Michael Valenzuela, of Whittier California, was also not injured.

The driver of a Chevy Pickup, 44-year-old Anthony Hanna, of Tyler, Texas, was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

OHP said the driver of a sixth vehicle, 68-year-old Gary Newton, of Clinton, Oklahoma, was treated and released.