PATRICK FORD

NEWS EDITOR

Oklahoma Highway Patrol is investigating a crash Tuesday afternoon that took the life of a Henryetta man.

The multi-vehicle collision happened around 1:42 p.m. just north of Celia Berryhill Road on Hwy. 75, causing the southbound lane of the highway to be shut down for several hours.

The OHP reported that a Chevrolet pickup driven by Eddie Screechowl, 81, was northbound on highway, when the truck departed the roadway to the left for an unknown reason, going into the center median.

The truck then hit an embankment, crossed the cable barrier, and struck a 2015 Freightliner truck that was traveling southbound. Both vehicles left the runway on the right.

The victim was pronounced deceased by the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner at the scene due to head, trunk external, trunk internal, arm and leg injuries. He was pinned in the vehicle for a couple hours before being freed by the Okmulgee Fire Department by using the Jaws of Life.

The driver of the other truck was identified as Michael Thomas, 45, of Henryetta. He was transported by Okmulgee County EMS to the local hospital where he was admitted in good condition suffering from arm injuries.

In addition to Oklahoma Highway Patrol, many other law enforcement agencies and first responders assisted at the scene including the Okmulgee County Sheriff ’s Office, Okmulgee County EMS, Okmulgee Fire Department and Preston Fire Department.