McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

December 30, 2008

Mishap leads to death

By James Beaty

A Tulsa man has died after suffering severe injuries in an accident which occurred near McAlester on Saturday.

James Carter, 76, died Monday at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, said the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

He had initially been transported to the McAlester Regional Health Center on Saturday by the McAlester Fire Department, the highway patrol said. He was later transported to the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, where he had been listed in critical condition with head injuries, internal and external trunk injuries, and leg and arm injuries, according to the highway patrol.

A passenger in Carter’s car, Hailey Muse, 40, of Tulsa, was also transported by ambulance to MRHC following the accident, the highway patrol said. She was later transferred to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, where she was listed in stable condition with internal and external trunk injuries, the patrol said.

The driver of a second vehicle involved in the accident, David Triplett, 65, of Stringtown was also transported to MRHC by the McAlester Fire Department, where he was listed in stable condition with external trunk, leg and arm injuries, the highway patrol said.

Keith Calmes, 49, of Bartlesville, the driver of a third vehicle involved in the collision, and passenger Joyce Calmes, 58, also of Bartlesville, were not injured, according to the highway patrol.

The accident occurred during rainy weather at approximately 9:47 a.m. on Saturday at mile marker 56 on the Indian Nation Turnpike as Carter was southbound in a 2000 Dodge, the highway patrol said.

Carter’s Dodge hyroplaned and crossed the center median, striking Triplett’s 2000 Ford pickup, the highway patrol said.

Calmes, who was driving north on the turnpike in a 2006 Ford SUV, took evasive action and was also struck by the Dodge, the highway patrol said.

The Dodge became stranded in the roadway while Triplett’s pickup ran off the turnpike to the right and overturned one and a-half times, before coming to rest on its top, the highway patrol said.

Trooper Pat Funderburk of the Indian Nation Detachment of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated the accident, assisted by trooper David Vasquez.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

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