An arraignment has been scheduled for a driver charged with manslaughter in the traffic death of a Stroud woman in 2020.
Jessie O. Hardridge, 42, of Edmond, was charged June 22, 2020 in Lincoln County District Court with first degree manslaughter, a felony, in the death of Wendi Wright, 41.
His arraignment has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 17. His $30,000 bond remains in effect. An earlier attempt to reduce his bond was denied.
Hardridge is accused driving a 2019 Nissan Frontier on the Turner Turnpike that propelled into and against Wright who was at the time operating a 2014 Dodge Challenger.
State Trooper Michael Wallace in an affidavit states that just before 6 a.m. on April 29, Hardridge was driving his vehicle west on the Turner Turnpike approaching the Stroud exit. He was on his way home to Edmond after having worked an overnight shift and fell asleep behind the wheel.
Wallace further notes that Wright was on the ramp to enter the Turnpike westbound from Stroud in Lincoln County.
Hardridge reportedly awoke in the westbound off ramp and realized he was going too fast to make the curve right in the off ramp.
The trooper states the event data recorder (EDR) in the Nissan driven by Hardridge reported he was at 95 miles per hour in the seconds prior to the collision.
The speed limit was 75 miles per hour.
Hardridge reportedly explained he saw the Dodge in his peripheral view as he left the off ramp as the ramp curved.