Fatal Traffic Accident Shuts Down Highway

Saturday, June 9th 2007, 10:41 am

By: News On 6

One person is dead and four are seriously injured after a dump truck lost control on the interstate. It happened Saturday morning on I-44 and 193rd in Catoosa. News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports troopers say it was a devastating scene.

A dump truck was driving east bound when it lost control and struck two vehicles.

It would take several rescue crews, the Jaws of Life, and two medical helicopters to get help to the victims, but it was too late for one of them.

The dump truck driver, 27-year-old Stanly Sweeney, was dead. Four others were in a fight for their lives.

â€œI know the driver of the van had severe leg injuries, and they've got some pretty severe injuries from what I can see,â€ said Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Russell Stripling.

Troopers say they work hard to enforce traffic safety to avoid scenes like this, but on a stretch of road like this it may be impossible.

I-44 and 193rd is known for trouble. Its nickname is dysfunction junction because all the highways merge there.

Last year a semi truck hydroplaned on the highway sending the truck into median. No one was hurt, but just like thescene on Saturday, it took hours to clear the wreckage.

â€œIt starts up the road quite a ways so it's a large scene,â€ Stripling said. â€œIt's pretty devastating.â€

Troopers say they still don't know what caused Sweeny to lose control of the dump drunk and cross the median.

Watch the video: One Killed In Highway Traffic Accident