State's traffic deaths highest since 1980

Tuesday, September 3rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ This year's Labor Day weekend was the deadliest on Oklahoma roadways in more than 20 years, said state troopers, who said the increase came despite a five-state crackdown on drunk drivers and traffic law violators.

``It's a tragic thing,'' said Lt. Brandon Kopepasah. ``One death is tragic, but when you have this many it's worse.''

Nine deaths were reported. Among the last to die was an 18-year-old Hydro man who had just started his freshman year at Southwestern State University.

Friends say Orbie Wilburn, a former football player who made ends meet by cooking at a steakhouse, was driving home from Weatherford for more clothes when his car was slammed from behind by a tractor trailer rig.

Both vehicles caught fire and the truck's driver, Michael Carey, 41, of Vine Grove, Ky., also died in the crash.

``No one enjoyed life more than Orbie,'' said Kim Liebscher, a family friend. ``He was a big cut-up and practical joker. He just enjoyed himself, but he was also a tender-hearted guy. He cared a lot for others.''

Two others died in Monday accidents including a 16-year-old Willow boy who was a passenger in a car that overturned near Granite and a 30-year-old Haworth man whose all-terrain vehicle overturned in a McCurtain County ditch

Also Monday, Spencer police identified a 15-year-old boy who died after driving a go-cart into a moving car. The Sunday collision killed Chase Caesar of Oklahoma City. A 3-year-old girl riding on the go-cart was in fair condition.

Eight people died in Oklahoma traffic accidents during the last three Labor Day weekends, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said. This year's holiday was the worst since 1980.

Labor Day is consistently higher in traffic fatalities than other summer holidays including Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Since 1980, 225 people have died in the state in Labor Day accidents.

So far, 2002 is a deadlier year on the road than last year. The patrol says 466 people have died in state auto crashes since Jan. 1. That is 12 more than for the same period in 2001.