Crash claims 2 lives on I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike

OTTAWA COUNTY, Okla. – Authorities say two people died in last night’s crash on the I-44 Will Rogers Turnpike in Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

On December 29, 2021, emergency personnel responded to a crash in the westbound lane on I-44, about six miles west of Miami, Oklahoma. It happened around 8:00 pm.

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol crash report, they are still investigating the cause after a 2018 Freightliner crashed with a Ford F-250.

Two Kansas residents lost their lives. 38-year-old Melanie Harper was driving the F-250. She’s from Basehor, Kansas. She died at the scene. Her passenger, 50-year-old Elizabeth Kraghad of Leavenworth, Kansas, also died at the scene due to injuries.

A 58-year-old from Arcadia, California was driving the semi. Integris EMS took him to Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. They then transferred him to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. He was in critical condition. Authorities are not releasing his name until they have notified his next of kin.

Troopers are still investigating the condition of the drivers at the time of the crash and the cause of the collision.

Closure on Will Rogers Turnpike

The crash led authorities to close a portion of the Will Rogers Turnpike. According to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, they closed westbound I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike between Industrial Blvd Parkway to SH-10 (mm 313) in Miami and US-60 (mm302) in Ottawa County.

The closure lasted until around 3:00 am.

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