Two separate traffic collisions in Lincoln County within 10 hours of one another have left one person dead and four others injured, Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers report.
A fatality collision that also injured two others occurred around 1:39 p.m. last Wednesday on SH 99, ¼ mile north of County Road 980, approximately 7½ miles north of Prague in Lincoln County, troopers said.
State Trooper Mike Wallace, lead investigator of the fatal collision, and other troopers are still trying to determine who was driving the 2000 Chevrolet Suburban that was the only vehicle involved in the crash.
Wallace said Darryl Riple, 32, of Ada, was transported by REACT to Prague Community Hospital with head, external trunk, and internal trunk injuries.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital, the trooper reported.
Riple was listed as passenger No. 3 on the report. He was ejected approximately 15 feet southeast of the Suburban, according to the trooper’s report.
Destini Ayers, 31, of Durant, was transported by Miller EMS to Integris Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City. She was admitted in fair condition with head, trunk external, and arm injuries. She was listed as passenger No. 1.
Marcus Turner, 45 of Tulsa, listed as passenger No. 2, was transported by REACT to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City with head, trunk internal injuries. He was reportedly admitted in good condition.
The trooper said the Suburban was southbound on SH 99, ran off the roadway to the right for an unknown reason. The vehicle then reentered the roadway before departing to the left.
It then rolled an unknown number of times coming to rest on its wheels, ejecting Riple.
Condition of whoever was driving the vehicle is listed as under investigation as is the cause of the collision.
Seat belts were equipped but use is under investigation, Wallace said in his report.
Air bags were equipped but didn’t deploy, according to the report.
Wallace of the Traffic Homicide Unit was assisted by Lt. Robert Winrow, Troopers Eric Terrell, Adam Post, Matt Snyder and Maj. Jason Holt, all of Troop A and Troopers Paul Lakin and Charles Criddle of the Turner Turnpike, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, REACT EMS, Miller EMS, and the Arlington, Stroud and Davenport Fire Departments.
A two-vehicle collision that injured two persons occurred around 10 hours later at 1:09 a.m. last Thursday on County Road 990, 3/10 mile west of County Road 3360, seven miles south of Warwick, in Lincoln County, the OHP reported.
State Trooper Nathan Battershell reported Tommy Kerbo, 63, of Wellston was transported to Baptist Integris Hospital in Oklahoma City by Air Evac. Kerbo reportedly was admitted in serious condition with multiple internal and external injuries.
The trooper said Ada Ford, 53 of Wellston, also was transported to Baptist Integris Hospital in Oklahoma City by Air Evac. She was admitted in serious condition with trunk internal, external and leg injuries.
She was a passenger in a 2003 Ford driven by Kerbo.
Battershell said the other vehicle was a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Justis Nelson, 20, of Harrah who was not injured.
The trooper reported Kerbo was driving the Ford eastbound on County Road 990 and Nelson was headed westbound on the road in the Silverado.
He said both vehicles were in the middle of the road when topping a hill.
Each vehicle swerved in attempts to miss each other and collided, he reported.
The trooper listed cause of the collision as left of center and said condition of the drivers at the time of the collision was normal. Battershell said seat belts were equipped in both vehicles and in use by all and that air bags were equipped and deployed in both vehicles.
Battershell, of Troop A, was assisted by Troopers Adam Post and Joe Porter of Troop A. Also assisting were the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, Jacktown Fire Department, Chandler EMS and Air Evac.