Trailer becomes unhitched, causes accident; Maud motorist, passenger die

JASON SMITH STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The driver of this pickup was killed Monday afternoon when his vehicle struck a loose trailer on SH 9 near South Rock Creek Road. A passenger in the pickup was airlifted from the scene to an Oklahoma City hospital and died hours later.

By Kim Morava

Staff Writer

Posted Jun 30, 2008 @ 11:07 PM

Last update Jun 30, 2008 @ 11:09 PM

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TECUMSEH, Okla. —

An 83-year-old Maud man was killed Monday afternoon on SH 9 when his truck hit a loose trailer that became unhitched from another pickup. His passenger, also 83, died hours later at an Oklahoma City hospital.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the accident occurred about 2:14 p.m. on SH 9, about 100 yards east of South Rock Creek Road.
Raymond Taylor, 83, died at the scene. His passenger, Grady D. Strawn, 83, died late Monday night at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, the OHP said.
The accident occurred as Darrell W. Mackey, 62, Konawa, was driving a 2004 Chevrolet pickup and pulling a 15-foot trailer, the OHP said.
Mackey was eastbound while two other vehicles — a 1988 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by Taylor and a 1995 Dodge Intrepid driven by Amy M. Schott, 30, Weleetka, weremy M. Schott, 30, Weleetka, were westbound on SH 9.

The OHP said the trailer on Mackey’s pickup detached and entered the westbound lane. The trailer was struck by Taylor’s Dodge pickup. Schott attempted to avoid hitting the Dodge pickup and ended up hitting the trailer, the report shows.
Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene from massive head, internal and external injuries, the OHP said. He was pinned in the wreckage for about one hour before being freed by Tecumseh firefighters.
A Medi Flight helicopter ambulance landed on the highway and transported Strawn to Oklahoma City, where he was admitted at OU Medical Center in critical condition with head, arm, leg, internal trunk and external injuries, the OHP said. Strawn died about 9 p.m. Monday night.
The other two drivers were not injured, the report shows. The patrol said Taylor and Strawn were not wearing seat belts.
Trooper Kevin Logan investigated the accident with assistance from other troopers and the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. Tribal police also worked traffic control and REACT EMS paramedics worked triage at the scene