A 64-year-old California woman died Tuesday night after a high-speed crash in downtown Weatherford that police say followed her SUV slamming into a semi-truck unloading fuel at a neighborhood gas station. Weatherford police said they were alerted around 8:45 p.m. by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol about a reckless driver heading west on Interstate 40. A witness later reported seeing a black SUV exit the interstate, as per KOCO.
According to a Weatherford Police Department news release, the driver, identified as Ericka Goodlin of Glendora, California, "intentionally struck" a semi that was unloading fuel at the Domino's gas station/convenience store and then sped away west on Main Street, as reported by KOCO.
Within minutes, police said, the SUV crashed in the 800 block of West Main Street. Goodlin was taken to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries. In the written statement, officials said the Weatherford Police Department "extends its condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Ericka Goodlin during this difficult time."
Investigation Remains Open
Police say the crash remains under investigation, and they have not released any information on a possible motive or whether criminal charges might be filed. Investigators are asking anyone who has video or eyewitness information from I-40 or Main Street to contact the Weatherford Police Department through the city’s police page at the Weatherford Police Department.
What Officials Have Not Said
Authorities have not said whether drugs, alcohol, or a medical episode may have played a role in the crash, and it remains unclear if the semi-truck driver was injured. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s initial reckless driving alert prompted the local response, and investigators are expected to review available footage and witness statements to piece together what happened.
