Vehicle Accidents, Drownings, Lightning Take Toll On Families Throughout Area, State
Among the 12 people who died around the state in accidents and drownings late last week and into the weekend, six perished in this area, including a woman and child killed in a crash, south of Davis, on Saturday.
Accidents near Durant and in Mead claimed two additional lives and two died in drowning incidents, one at Lake Texoma and another at Lake Murray, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
A sixth person died while on Lake Texoma when lightning struck two people, killing a Texas woman, according to reports.
“This weekend has been devastating,” the Oklahoma Highway Patrol wrote in a post on X. “Since Friday, we’ve investigated seven crashes that claimed nine lives. We’ve also responded to three drownings. Twelve souls lost across our state—each one heartbreaking. These aren’t just numbers. These were people with families, friends, and futures that ended far too soon. The pain left behind is deep and lasting.”
The patrol listed several ways drivers can make safe choices each time they get behind the wheel:
•Slow down. Speed reduces your reaction time and increases the severity of crashes.
•Buckle up. Every person, every seat, every time.
•Stay focused. No text, call, or distraction is worth a life.
•Don’t drive impaired. Alcohol, drugs, and fatigue all affect your ability to drive safely.
•Use your headlights in rain, fog, or low light. It helps others see you.
“I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years, and I can’t even think of a more deadly weekend than what we just had,” Lt. Mark Southall, of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, told to kxii.com. “Aside from catching bad guys or stopping cars, knocking on a door is the hardest thing we possibly can do, because once that fatality occurs there’s no coming back from it.”
Davis Woman, Child Killed In Single Vehicle Crash
A single-vehicle accident on U.S. 77 and Sooner Rock Road (S.H. 96) on Saturday, July 26, claimed the lives of a Davis woman and a male juvenile, the patrol reported. A second juvenile, a female, was airlifted from the scene of the crash and admitted to OU Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City in stable condition with leg, arm and burn injuries, the patrol said.
The accident happened about 3:29 p.m., two miles south and one mile west of Davis, according to the patrol.
Troopers said the driver of a Chevrolet Colorado, Donna J. Beaver, 55, and the child were both pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
The patrol said the vehicle departed the roadway to the left, crossed the center median and southbound lanes, then departed the roadway again and struck a tree.
Other aspects of the accident remain under investigation.
One Dead In Accident Near Durant
A second accident in this general area claimed the life of a Durant woman following a crash on Saturday, July 26, the patrol reported.
Killed in that accident was 24-yearold Phyllis Eggenberg, the patrol said.
According to troopers, Eggenberg was a passenger in a Ford Explorer, driven by Billy Hobbs, 33, Bokchita. He sustained minor injuries and was not transported to a hospital.
Troopers said the accident happened about 9:31 p.m. on U.S. 70, eight miles east of Durant, when the vehicle went off the road, rolled down an embankment coming to rest on the driver’s side.
The patrol said seatbelts were in use by the driver, but not the passenger.
Pedestrian Killed In Mead A pedestrian was killed in Mead last Friday night after being struck by a vehicle while he was walking across U.S. 70, according to the patrol. The accident happened about 10:24 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 70 and Ranchette Rd.
Troopers identified the deceased victim as Paul Synder, 64, Mead. According to the patrol, a vehicle, driven by Gavin Magnuson, 21, Kingston, struck Snyder, then swerved into the westbound lanes, striking another vehicle, then rolled about one-half time before coming to rest on its top.
Magnuson was taken to Alliance Health for treatment of minor injuries, the patrol said. There were no injuries to the driver or passengers in the other vehicle.
Two Drown On Area Lakes; One Dead In Lightning Strike
Two people drowned on area lakes over the weekend and one person was killed by lightning, according to the patrol and media reports.
The drownings occurred last Friday and Saturday. The lightning strike happened on Saturday.
The Friday drowning occurred about 4:54 p.m. near Elephant Rock on Lake Murray when a man operating a Sea-Doo tried to retrieve his hat, fell off the jet ski, and was unable re-board the vessel. He then lost consciousness and was overtaken by the waves, according to the patrol.
He was identified as Aaron Madrid, 43, of Denver City, TX. Troopers said the victim was transported to Mercy Hospital in Ardmore where he was pronounced dead.
The second drowning happened about 9:11 a.m. Saturday on Lake Texoma, two miles east of Little City in Marshall County, when a man fishing in a Kayak fell from the vessel, troopers reported. The victim, identified as Billy Cooper, 40, Durant, was found the next day in the water near Texoma Shores.
He was not wearing a personal flotation device, according to the report.
Also on Saturday, two people were struck by lightning near Party Island on Lake Texoma, reports indicated.
According to KGAF and kxii.com, a Cooke County, Texas woman, identified as Vanessa Zimmer, 32, died from her injuries after being taken to Alliance Health in Madill.
According to the outlets, emergency responders received a call around 3:15 p.m. reporting two individuals had been struck by lightning. The two were taken to the shore by Oklahoma Highway Patrol where they received treatment by Marshall County EMS crews.
Zimmer, according to the reports, was transported to the hospital in critical condition and later died. The other victim declined treatment, the report stated.
