A pedestrian died New Year’s Eve afternoon after he was struck by two vehicles on the Turner Turnpike near Wellston in Lincoln County, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports.
State Trooper Hamilton identified the man who died as Thien Tran, 74, of Oklahoma City. Hamilton said Tran was pronounced dead on the scene by Survival Flight EMS. He was transported by the Medical Examiner to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Oklahoma City.
The trooper reported the fatal collision occurred shortly before 1:30 p.m. in the eastbound lanes on the Turner Turnpike at approximately the 155.5 mile marker in Lincoln County.
Hamilton said a non-contact vehicle, a 2006 Toyota Tundra, was driven by Nicholas Korff, 26, of Oklahoma City, who was uninjured; Contact vehicle 1, a 2022 Jeep Gladiator, was driven by Justin Dobbins, 46, of Weatherford, who was uninjured; and Contact vehicle 2, a 2023 Freightliner Cascadia, was driven by Charles Nielson, 58, of Gilbert, Ariz., was also uninjured.
The trooper stated that Non-Contact vehicle 1 was eastbound and avoided hitting the pedestrian who was standing in the outside lane of traffic near his vehicle.
He said Contact Vehicle 1 was going behind Non-Contact Vehicle 1 and attempted to avoid the pedestrian as well but was unable to switch lanes due to traffic. Contact Vehicle 1 collided with the pedestrian.
The trooper further reported that shortly after, Contact Vehicle 2 also collided with the pedestrian.
Condition of the drivers of both contact vehicles was apparently normal and the condition of the pedestrian at the time of the collision is under investigation, Hamilton stated.
The trooper listed cause of the collision as inattention- other.
He said drivers of both contact vehicles were wearing seat belts.
Hamilton, of Troop YB, was assisted by Trooper Hargus, Trooper Ludwig and Lt. Jenkins, all of Troop YB, the Wellston Police and Fire Departments and Survival Flight EMS from Wellston.