A jury trial has been scheduled for a Texas man who faces a first degree manslaughter charge and who pleaded innocent during his arraignment A formal charge of first degree manslaughter was filed March 22, 2024 in Lincoln County District Court against Travis Smith, 46, of Dallas, Texas.
A $100,000 bench warrant was issued for his arrest. The warrant was later returned and filed, court records show.
Appearing before for his arraignment earlier, District Judge Sarah Bridge, Smith entered a not guilty plea. The judge set his case for the felony disposition docket on Dec. 17.
On that date Judge Bridge set Smith’s case for the felony disposition docket on Jan. 30, 2025 and jury trial on Feb. 3, 2025. She scheduled a hearing for Jan. 14 to hearing the defendant’s motion to suppress.
Smith earlier appeared before Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk who ordered that his previous $100,000 bond remain.
Smith was identified as the driver of a vehicle involved in a fatal traffic collision on the Turner Turnpike in Lincoln County.
The charge states that Smith on Aug. 24, 2023, was driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicating substance, a misdemeanor, by driving a 2018 Toyota Yaris on a public road while having an amount of methamphetamine in his blood. As a result, he injured his passenger Daniel Lineberger causing Lineberger’s death on that date.
State Trooper Shayne Ballard states in a probable cause affidavit that at about 11:32 p.m. on Aug. 24, 2024 the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding a fatal traffic collision that occurred on the Turner Turnpike near mile marker 177 in Lincoln County.
The OHP and other law enforcement and first responders arrived, and the OHP began a criminal investigation into the collision, he said.
According to the affidavit, physical evidence at the scene indicated that the 2018 Yaris was traveling eastbound on the turnpike when it left the roadway to the right, traveled through the grass, went up a small grass hill before going airborne and colliding with an overhead bridge support beam.
Smith was pinned in the driver’s seat and Lineberger was pinned in the front passenger seat.
Both were extricated by first responders.
A second passenger was in the back seat and she was identified as Hilary Beall, 34 at the time of the collision.
Ballard reported Lineberger was transported to OU Medical Center for injuries sustained in the collision, where he was pronounced dead.
During the investigation, State Trooper Ryan Vanvleck received consent from Smith to do a consensual blood draw. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations Forsenic Science Center tested blood samples obtained from Smith and found amphetamine and methamphetamine in Smith’s blood stream, according to the affidavit.
Ballard attempted to interview Smith at OU Medical Center but was unable to do so due to pain medication administered to Smith by hospital staff.
Smith was later transported to Texas by the U.S. Marshal’s Office for outstanding felony warrants.