Sand Springs Teens Wreck While Texting, Troopers Say

A teenage driver, distracted by texting and "trying to scare" the three other teens in his jeep, wrecked Friday afternoon on westbound State Highway 51 near 225th West Avenue.

Saturday, March 13th 2010, 10:23 am

By: News On 6

NewsOn6.com

SAND SPRINGS, OK -- A teenage driver "distracted by a passenger in the vehicle texting him" wrecked Friday afternoon on westbound State Highway 51 near 225th West Avenue, according to a report by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Troopers say another teenager in the car was texting 17-year-old driver Michael Witwer, of Sand Springs, just before the accident at about 3:11 p.m.

Witwer, "in an attempt to scare the passengers," began to swerve his 2003 Jeep Liberty and then lost control of the vehicle. It left the roadway to the right and rolled two times before coming to rest on the embankment.

The car held three teenage passengers – all from Sand Springs. All three were treated and released at St. John Hospital in Tulsa. They are Jacob Brown, 16, Kristin Kingfisher, 17, and Alexander Blackwell, 18.

Witwer was admitted to the hospital in stable condition with head injuries.

All the teens were wearing seat belts, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.