By Cathy Spaulding
OKTAHA — The driver of a Chevrolet Blazer was injured Wednesday morning when he pulled into the path of an oncoming vehicle, said Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Robert Francis.
The name of the driver of the Blazer and his condition was unavailable Wednesday evening.
Francis said a one-ton Chevrolet flatbed truck driven by Ben McFarland, 43, of Krebs was going south on U.S. 69 when the maroon Blazer pulled off the shoulder into his lane.
“The Blazer made an improper move, entering directly into the lane of traffic,” Francis said.
McFarland said he was driving south on the highway on the right-hand lane when he hit the Blazer.
The Blazer then went across U.S. 69, rolled and ended up in the median, facing the southbound lanes.
The wreck was called in at 10:29 a.m. Troopers and emergency personnel found the Blazer upright in the U.S. 69 median, about three-fourths of a mile south of the Oktaha exit. Windows were shattered on all sides, and the roof was crushed on the passenger side.
McFarland’s truck was several hundred feet south with its front end smashed.
“My truck is the one with no front end,” he said.
McFarland was able to move around after the wreck.
Heavy cloud cover kept a rescue helicopter from Keefeton from landing at the scene. Francis said a helicopter had to be called in from Claremore. Muskogee County Emergency Medical Service transported the Blazer driver to a location near the Muskogee Turnpike to get the victim onto the rescue helicopter.
Reach Cathy Spaulding at 918-684-2928 or Click Here to Send Email
