Update: The Oklahoma Highway Patrol released a statement saying "In coordination with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's Traffic Homicide Unit, the National Transportation Safety Board sent a team of four investigators and a family assistance specialist to Oklahoma on Wednesday, March 23
Witnesses reported the Chevrolet stopped behind another vehicle at the stop sign but did not itself stop at the stop sign, and entered US-377 attempting a left turn. The combination vehicle struck the front-left of the Chevrolet in the southbound lane, pushing it off the roadway to the southwest. The combination vehicle then departed the roadway and came to rest in a private driveway on the east side of US-377. As a result of the crash, all six occupants in the Chevrolet were killed; the truck driver was uninjured.
A preliminary case review will be submitted to the US Attorney's Office in the Eastern District for review."
Original:
Six high school students are dead after a crash in Johnston County on Tuesday.
The crash happened around 12:20 p.m. Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the six girls, students at Tishomingo High School, were in a 2015 Chevrolet Spark and crashed into a semi-truck at the junction of Highway 377 and State Highway 22.
Four of the girls died on the scene. The other two died at the hospital. The driver of the semi-truck was not injured from the crash.
The driver was a 16-year-old girl, another was 17-years-old, and the other four were 15-years-old.
OHP investigations revealed only the driver and front-seat passenger of the Chevy Spark wore seat belts. The semi-truck driver also had on a seat belt during the crash.
Country music superstar and Oklahoma native Blake Shelton released a statement Wednesday following the news of the crash. Shelton has a ranch in Tishomingo:
“In the wake of yesterday’s unthinkable crash in our small town of Tishomingo, we as a community have all been in shock and broken hearted. I personally know the devastation of suddenly losing a loved one in a car accident. But our community is strong and has come together to support and wrap our arms around the families and friends that are hurting the most. There’s no question it will take a long time to heal from this tragedy. Keep the prayers coming.”
Tishomingo Superintendent Bobby Waitman issued a statement Tuesday following the crash.
“We feel it is imperative that we inform you that our District has suffered a great loss today involving high school students,” Waitman said in a letter to parents and community members. “Our hearts are broken, and we are grieving with our students and staff. We have counselors available to students presently. We also have space prepared at Tishomingo High School with counselors available through the evening.”
The schools held classes with staff focused on students' emotional well-being.
The crash is still under investigation.
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