Washita County Judge Killed In Traffic Accident


Wednesday, November 1st 2006, 9:29 am
By: News On 6


CLINTON, Okla. (AP) -- A Washita County judge who was running for re-election is dead following a two-car collision on US Highway 183 near Clinton.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says Associate District Judge Ellis Cabaniss of Clinton died of head injuries in the accident about 7:45 Tuesday night.

Troopers say Cabaniss was northbound when a southbound car driven by Nicholas Gudz of San Diego, California, turned left into the path of Cabaniss' pickup truck. The two collided and Cabaniss' truck rolled.

Gudz and a passenger in his car are both hospitalized in Clinton.

Cabaniss was a long-time attorney in Clinton before being appointed judge in 2004 after the death of Judge Joe Burch. He was running for his first full term on the bench.