Accident On The Will Rogers Turnpike Leaves Two Dead And One Injured

Sunday, June 11th 2006, 6:17 pm

By: News On 6

A deadly pile-up claims two lives and forces a Green Country turnpike to close. It happened around one this morning on the Will Rogers Turnpike about three miles east of Claremore.

Highway Patrol troopers say a wrecker was trying to hook-up to a Mustang that had lost control and crashed into a guardrail. A semi truck driver stopped to help and direct traffic. About 30 minutes later, troopers say two other semis and a Ford Expedition S.U.V. collided with that truck.

Trooper Scott McCreary, OHP: "We had two semis burned at the scene and we have two confirmed fatalities."

The S.U.V. driver, Victor Lopez, was killed, along with a 51 year old semi driver Victor Mokriak of Ontario, Canada. A passenger asleep in the back of Mokriakâ€™s cab was not seriously injured. Another semi driver, 52 year old Ciobaca Vasile of Portland Oregon, was treated and released from a Claremore hospital. The drivers of the wrecker, the Mustang and the semi that stopped to help were not hurt.

Troopers say at least one of the semis was hauling a food product, but they haven't said yet what kind. All four lanes were shut down after the wreck.

A live look at the scene from Sky News 6 shows both eastbound lanes have since reopened and crews have cleared the wreckage. Traffic is down to one westbound lane. Troopers say the other lane will be closed until Tuesday.