Authorities Investigating Whether Fatal Accident Near New Castle Was A Hit-And-Run

NEWCASTLE, Okla. (AP) -- Authorities are trying to determine whether another vehicle may have been involved in a fatal two-car collision.<br/><br/>The accident between Newcastle and Tuttle along Oklahoma

Friday, August 11th 2006, 6:11 am

By: News On 6

NEWCASTLE, Okla. (AP) -- Authorities are trying to determine whether another vehicle may have been involved in a fatal two-car collision.

The accident between Newcastle and Tuttle along Oklahoma Highway 37 sparked a grass fire around 4 PM Thursday.

Newcastle Police Chief Gary Norman says an eastbound pickup truck crossed into the westbound lanes, hitting a car. The truck's driver and a passenger died on impact, as did the driver of the car, 61-year-old Trudy Bowen of Tuttle.

Norman says the other victims' names were withheld pending notification of relatives.

He says reports from witnesses have been conflicting but investigators think the accident may have been a hit-and-run. Norman says if that's the case, criminal charges will be pursued.

The fire burned between 80 and 100 acres. Newcastle Fire Chief Kevin Self says helping the victims were firefighters' top priority, so the fire spread before they were able to turn their attention to it.