WAGONER COUNTY, OKLA. – A 19-year-old from Utah is dead after an accident involving three vehicles on the Muskogee Turnpike in Wagoner County, Oklahoma. 12 people out of the 13 involved, including the teen who has since died, were hospitalized with injuries.
Troopers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Nancy Vea died from her injuries at a Tulsa hospital Saturday morning (Aug. 23) around 9:15 a.m.
Troopers said the accident happened around 8:30 a.m. Friday morning (Aug. 22) after Duane Carter, 53, from Greenwood tried to make an illegal U-turn around a barricade in the southbound lane of the turnpike.
A semi driver who was following the van hit his brakes and was then struck from behind a third vehicle, which was a passenger bus, according to a report from OHP. The semi then crashed into the back of the van.
There were five passengers in Carter’s van at the time of the accident. Troopers said Vea, who was not wearing her seatbelt, was ejected from the van, after it was hit by the truck. All of the passengers were transported to Tulsa area hospitals to be treated for injuries, according to authorities. June Bowden, 82, also from Greenwood, was among those who were hospitalized. She has been treated for her injuries and was released, troopers said.
There were also several people in the passenger bus that hit the semi from behind who were injured. All of them have been treated and released from the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Muskogee, troopers said.
The trucker was not injured, according to the report.
The accident closed all lanes in both directions of the Muskogee turnpike for nearly two hours Friday morning, authorities said.
Authorities said the accident is still under investigation.
Stay with 5NEWS for more on this story as it develops.
