Iowa Woman Killed In Accident That Ties Up Traffic On I-244

Tuesday, March 20th 2007, 8:01 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A multiple-vehicle accident that killed an Iowa woman on Monday snarled traffic on Interstate 244 for hours, authorities said. Jill Larson, 62, sustained massive internal and head injuries in the 11:36 a.m. accident on I-244 in Tulsa County, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.

The Department of Transportation closed the westbound lanes of the interstate near the Memorial overpass and I-244 wasn't accessible from U.S. Highway 169 for more than three hours and 45 minutes, the patrol said.

The vehicle in which Jill Larson, of Mason City, Iowa, was riding was headed west on the highway when Amanda Holland's car left the roadway and overcorrected, hitting Larson's vehicle, troopers said.

The vehicle carrying Jill Larson lost control, went through the median and into the westbound lanes, where it was struck by a semi. Both vehicles hit a van and another vehicle was struck by debris, the patrol reported.

Jill Larson was pinned in the wreckage for about two hours before being freed by Tulsa firefighters, troopers said.

The driver of that vehicle, James Larson, and Sara Erickson, a passenger in the vehicle, were listed in critical condition at St. John Medical Center. Holland was hospitalized in stable condition at Hillcrest Medical Center, the patrol said.

Dwayne Bell, 27, was treated at the scene of the accident and released, troopers said. The occupants of the van and the fifth car weren't hurt.