ANADARKO – A jury trial for a man accused of leaving the scene of a fatality mishap on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike 11 months ago is scheduled for March 23, 2026, in Caddo County District Court here.
Wallace Cleveland Clay, 51, of Owasso, was released from custody on a $20,000 appearance bond posted by Bill East Bail Bonds of Anadarko.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported Kreshardra MeKellie Willhoite was struck the afternoon of Oct. 6, 2024, in the eastbound lanes of the H. E. Bailey 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 one of the vehicle’s tires 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.
Clay was traveling eastbound on the turnpike in the outside lane and struck 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, the officer wrote.
Clay “continued driving eastbound,” Hayes wrote.
Jace Willhoite, the brother, “witnessed his sister being struck and called emergency services to report the incident,” the trooper 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 was transported to the Caddo County Sheriff’s Office and later was charged in Caddo County District Court with the felony crime of leaving the scene of a fatality ac cident.