One killed in crash that closed Turner Turnpike

<br>CHANDLER, Okla. (AP) _ A crash involving four tractor-trailer rigs on the Turner Turnpike in Lincoln County left one man dead and both east- and westbound lanes of the turnpike closed for several hours

Thursday, April 29th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CHANDLER, Okla. (AP) _ A crash involving four tractor-trailer rigs on the Turner Turnpike in Lincoln County left one man dead and both east- and westbound lanes of the turnpike closed for several hours early Thursday.

Monty Turner, 40, of Licking, Mo., was killed in the crash near Chandler about 2:45 a.m., the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said. Turner was eastbound when he apparently fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into the center wall separating east- and westbound lanes, the highway patrol said.

The tractor of Turner's rig went over the wall and was hit by a westbound semi while the trailer was hit by two eastbound semis, troopers said.

The driver of the westbound tractor-trailer, Robert Bischeri of Montana, Calif., was hospitalized in stable condition, troopers said. No other serious injuries were reported.

Authorities shut down all four lanes of the interstate for nearly five hours to clear the wreckage from the roadway.