Tulsa Police say a distracted driver ends up in accident injuring 4 people

Tulsa Police say three students are fortunate to be alive after they were in a wreck on their way to school. Investigators say it is a classic case of a distracted driver. <br/><br/>News on 6 anchor

Monday, January 31st 2005, 9:09 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Police say three students are fortunate to be alive after they were in a wreck on their way to school. Investigators say it is a classic case of a distracted driver.

News on 6 anchor Craig Day says investigators say the students were on their way to school shortly before 8 AM. The driver, 17 year old Josiah Lund, crossed the centerline, hitting an oncoming pickup. Officers say Lund was distracted and that's what caused the accident.

Tulsa Police Sgt. Robert Rohloff: "the juveniles in the car that crossed the center line were spraying cologne back and forth on each other. And the driver went left of center during that."

The students live in Broken Arrow and go to school at Lincoln Christian School, which is a part of "Church on the Move." Lincoln's administrator says after hearing of the accident, the school implemented its emergency response plan. School administrator Art Matzkvech: "First of all what we asked our faculty to do was gather with their students in the classroom and certainly pray for this family. To make sure that everything would go good and that there would be total restoration and healing. Those sort of things."

The school also had ministers and counselors on stand-by.

Lund was taken to an area hospital with severe leg injuries. His younger 14-year-old brother and 12 year old sister have minor injuries. None of the injuries are life threatening.

The accident is a hard reminder about what can happen when drivers are distracted. I checked with Tulsa Police and they say 30% of accidents they investigate are caused by distracted drivers. They say this case could have been much worse.

The driver of the pickup was also injured in the accident. We're told he has a broken leg and is expected to recover.