Southeast Oklahoma under flash flood watch

Tuesday, March 19th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(OKLAHOMA CITY) - A storm soaked Oklahoma Tuesday, easing fire danger across much of the state but raising fears of flooding. A few traffic accidents were reported, one killing a 57-year-old man.

Investigators were trying to determine how big a role weather played in the accident that killed Dennis Edward Smith of Henryetta. His pickup truck ran off a county road in rainy conditions Monday night, hit a culvert and overturned. He was thrown from the truck and pinned underneath it.

In Pittsburg County, a driver on the Indian Nation Turnpike was critically injured when her car slid, crossed the median and struck an oncoming semitrailer truck, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said. She was identified as Reynelda Clayton, 28, of Idabel.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said rain and slick roads probably contributed to an accident that closed U.S. 62 east of Hollis at 6 a.m. A cattle truck overturned, injuring and trapping some animals and freeing others. It took three hours to completely reopen the highway.

``It was quite a mess for a while,'' said patrol 2nd Lt. Joe McGrory.

There was the potential for flash floods in the southeastern part of the state, the National Weather Service reported.

``It's been a steady, soaking rain which is good for the state,'' said National Weather Service meteorologist David Floyd. ``They're just having a little too much down there.''

In Atoka, 4.3 inches had fallen by 8 a.m. Durant recorded 4 inches.

The rain was good news farther west where state officials called off a fire alert for 46 counties that had been dry until Monday. Thirteen counties are still under the alert.

Other rain totals include McAlester with 2.3 inches; Frederick, 1.7; Lawton, 1.4; Oklahoma City, 0.86 and Tulsa, 0.72.

Forecasters said the rain would continue through Tuesday night in central and eastern Oklahoma, with a chance of continued shows in the eastern part of the state Wednesday.

Skies across the state were expected to remain cloudy for the rest of the week.