Alcohol Involved In Two Oklahoma Traffic Deaths, Troopers Report

NewsOn6.com

UNDATED -- Alcohol played a role in two weekend traffic fatalities, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. A a 25-year-old Miami man and a 44-year-old Texas woman were killed on Oklahoma Highways Saturday.

Joshua William Cox, 25, of Miami was killed at about 11:30 p.m. on an Ottawa County road about 7 miles southeast of Fairland. Troopers say his Chevrolet pickup failed to make a curve, ran off the roadway and struck a tree.

He was freed by the Fairland Fire Department and transported by Quapaw Tribal EMS to Miami Baptist Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead of massive injuries.

Troopers reported an odor of alcohol and noted that the cause of the accident was unsafe speed on a curve.

The Miami man was not wearing a seat belt.

Francis Griffin Steen, 44, of Pampas, Texas was killed at about 6:24 p.m. on State Highway 152 just west of Sweetwater in Roger Mills County.

Steen was a passenger in a truck driven by Ronnie Dale Hungate, 37, of Wheeler, Texas. Troopers say Hungate tried to pass in a no passing zone when he lost control of his vehicle. The Chevrolet went into a broadslide towards a north ditch, went airborne for about 25 feet, rolled and struck a tree.

Steen was ejected about 10 feet and pronounced dead at the scene. Hungate was partially ejected from the truck and taken by medical helicopter to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City with head, trunk and leg injuries.

Troopers say Hungate was driving under the influence of alcohol. Neither driver nor passenger were wearing a seat belt.