Two traffic collisions in Washita County last week proved fatal for one driver and injured another, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.
State Trooper Trent Cagle said a two-vehicle fatality collision occurred on March 10 around 12:15 p.m. on SH 54, 50 feet south of the intersection of SH 54A, about three miles east of Corn, Okla.
Cagle identified the woman who died as Donna R. Nickel, 86, of Corn. She was pronounced dead at the scene from trunk internal and head injuries by Life Guard EMS, the trooper said.
He reported she was transported to the medical examiner’s office in Oklahoma City at the request of M.E. Kathy Valentine.
Cagle said Nickel was driving a 2004 Mercury four-door sedan.
The other driver involved in the collision was Randy J. Ashley, 56, of Weatherford. Cagle said he was driving a 2012 Peterbuilt and didn’t suffer any injuries.
Cagle said Nickel was driving eastbound on SH 54A and Ashley was headed southbound on SH 54. Nickel turned right onto SH 54, he stated, and in an attempt to avoid contact with the sedan, Ashley proceeded to go around Nickel’s sedan.
The trooper said Nickel made an abrupt left hand turn into a private parking area. The truck struck Nickel’s car and both left the roadway to the east.
Cagle said cause of the collision is under investigation. Condition of both drivers at the time of the wreck was apparently normal, he said, and both vehicles were equipped with seat belts and in use by both drivers.
Cagle, of the OHP Traffic Homicide Unit, was assisted by Troopers Pete Gossen, John Jones, Chris Laufer, the Washita County Sheriff’s Office, Life Guard EMS, M.E. Kathy Valentine and Weatherford Fire Department.
State Trooper Trenton Keasler reported a one-vehicle personal injury traffic collision happened just before 4:30 p.m. on March 11. Keasler said the location was on SH 54 and County Road E 1120, around four miles east of Corn in Washita County.
The trooper said Robert Smith, 66, of Guthrie, was driver of a 2011 Toyota Tacoma. He was transported by Life Guard EMS to Weatherford Regional Hospital in Weatherford, then onto OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City.
Keasler said Smith was admitted in stable condition with an arm and trunk internal injuries.
The trooper reported that Smith was traveling southbound on SH 54 and for an unknown reason left the roadway to the right. He said as the Toyota was leaving the roadway it had dragged over logs causing the vehicle to roll a half of a turn.
It then struck a culvert and came to rest on its top, the trooper stated.
The trooper listed the cause of the collision as inattention. He said the driver’s condition at the time of the crash was apparently normal.
Seat belts were equipped in the vehicle and in use, the trooper said.
Keasler, of the Washita County Detachment of Trooper H, was assisted by Trooper Jared Boese, the Washita County Sheriff’s Office, Life Guard EMS, Weatherford Fire Department and the Corn Fire Department.