I-44 Crash Kills Three in Southwest Oklahoma City
I-44 Crash Kills Three in Southwest Oklahoma City
Three people were killed Thursday afternoon in a fiery I-44 crash involving five vehicles in southwest Oklahoma City.
A Chickasaw Lighthorse police officer injured in the collision has been released from the hospital, while investigators continue working to determine exactly what caused the deadly chain-reaction crash along Interstate 44 near Southwest 119th Street.
I-44 crash began after traffic slowed on interstate
The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, August 20, along northbound Interstate 44 near Southwest 119th Street.
According to KOCO 5 News, traffic had slowed along the interstate when an approaching semi-truck failed to stop.
The semi struck another vehicle, triggering a chain-reaction collision involving five vehicles, including a Chickasaw Lighthorse police cruiser.
The semi eventually rolled into a ditch, while another vehicle involved in the collision became completely engulfed in flames.
Authorities said three people were killed in the crash.
Two of the victims were traveling together in a pickup truck, while the third person killed was inside the semi-truck.
As of Friday morning, authorities had not released the identities of the three victims.
The crash immediately brought a large emergency response to the area, including Oklahoma City firefighters, law enforcement officers, medical crews and hazardous materials teams.
Chickasaw Lighthorse officer released from hospital
The Chickasaw Lighthorse officer involved in the crash suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The officer was transported to a local medical center following the collision and was released from the hospital Thursday night.
The Oklahoma City Fire Department reported that three other people were also injured in the wreck.
Additional information about the extent of those injuries had not been released.
The crash created a complicated response because of the number of vehicles involved, the vehicle fire and hazardous materials associated with the overturned semi.
Information about emergency response operations and fire safety resources is available through the Oklahoma City Fire Department.
Crews remained on the interstate for hours Thursday evening while investigators documented the scene and workers removed wreckage and debris.
The incident also created major traffic backups across southwest Oklahoma City, forcing drivers to find alternate routes during the evening commute.
Interstate 44 reopens after eight-hour closure
The deadly crash forced authorities to completely shut down northbound I-44 near Southwest 119th Street for more than eight hours.
Crews worked throughout the evening to clear the scene, remove damaged vehicles and complete a hazardous materials response connected to the semi-truck.
All lanes of Interstate 44 reopened shortly before midnight.
The reopening meant the interstate was fully accessible ahead of the Friday morning commute.
Investigators are still working to determine the exact circumstances that caused the semi-truck to fail to slow down as it approached traffic.
Authorities have not announced whether citations or charges could result from the crash.
The investigation remains ongoing as police continue reviewing evidence from the scene and working to determine the full sequence of events that led to one of the most serious Oklahoma City traffic crashes in recent weeks.
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