The Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated three fatality mishaps on state toll roads in October, one of which occurred on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) reported Kreshardra MeKellie Willhoite was struck at about 3:10 p.m. Oct. 6 in the eastbound lanes of the H.E.B. approximately seven miles east of Fletcher, at mile marker 65 in Caddo County. Willhoite, 46, of Norman, was pronounced dead at the scene.
OHP Trooper Ryan Hayes reported that Willhoite, her brother and her father “had arrived at their vehicle, which was broken down on the westbound side shoulder.”
Willhoite and her brother were looking for the tire to the vehicle and were unable to locate it on the westbound side of the turnpike. So they crossed the concrete median to the eastbound shoulder to see whether it might be over there.
Wallace Cleveland Clay was traveling eastbound on the turnpike in the outside lane and struck Ms. Willhoite, who was “walking on the shoulder” and was “vaulted forward over a guardrail,” Hayes wrote in his report. It was not known how fast the vehicle was traveling when the victim was hit. The weather was clear at the time, Hayes wrote.
Clay “continued driving eastbound,” the trooper wrote.
Jace Willhoite, the brother, “witnessed his sister being struck and called emergency services to report the incident,” Hayes related. In Chickasha, 15 miles away, police “observed a vehicle that had damage to the passenger side” and pulled over the vehicle and its driver, Clay. Chickasha police said Clay claimed he was on the phone with his insurance company and thought he struck a bird.
OHP Trooper Zachary Wallis said he snapped several photographs, including exterior damage to Clay’s car, “body tissue that was located on the passenger seat” of the car “and body tissue located on Clay’s person and clothing.”
Clay, 50, of Owasso, was transported to the Caddo County Sheriff’s Office and later was charged in Caddo County District Court with a felony crime: leaving the scene of a fatality accident. He was released from custody on a $20,000 bond, posted by Bill East Bail Bonds of Anadarko, pending a preliminary hearing conference scheduled for Jan. 16.
Major Garrett Vowell, the OHP’s turnpike liaison, told the Turnpike Authority last week that in October, besides investigating the three fatalities, troopers made 4,673 violator contacts, assisted 905 motorists, and investigated 131 motor vehicle collisions.
Turnpike troopers worked 965 shifts that month, averaging 231 miles per shift, for a total of 222,537 miles driven, Vowell reported.
OHP troopers made 10 drug interdictions in October on state turnpikes: five on the Turner, four on the Will Rogers, and one on the Kilpatrick.
Also in October, OHP troopers devoted 170 hours to toll enforcement on the turnpike system, Vowell said. “During this time they issued 111 citations and 390 warnings.”
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is “still 35 people short,” but “after our next academy we expect to be at full staffing,” Vowell told the Turnpike Authority in answer to a question.