A 19-year-old Ardmore woman was killed late Saturday night after falling from a moving vehicle on northbound Interstate 35, according to state officials. Investigators say she went out of the front passenger window near mile marker 50 in Murray County and was then struck by multiple vehicles. The crash briefly shut down northbound lanes while emergency crews and troopers worked the scene.
Troopers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol told reporters, as cited by KXII, that the victim, 19-year-old Lani Hicks, had been sitting in the passenger window when she fell from the car. Investigators said the fall happened just before 11:30 p.m. on April 4, 2026, and that Hicks was struck by multiple vehicles. Officials said the investigation is still in its early stages.
Passengers And Driver Uninjured, Authorities Say
According to KXII, the driver, 19-year-old Mylie Campbell of Ardmore, and three other passengers in the vehicle were not injured. Troopers were called to the northbound lanes of I-35 at mile marker 50, and Hicks later died from her injuries.
Why Ejections Are Often Fatal
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes that lap-and-shoulder belts sharply cut the risk of being thrown from a vehicle, reducing the risk of fatal injury by about 45% for front-seat occupants in cars and up to 60% in SUVs and light trucks. IIHS research also shows that people who are ejected in a crash face a much higher chance of dying, which highlights just how dangerous it is to ride in a window or travel unrestrained on a highway.
Statewide Safety Picture
Oklahoma’s Highway Safety Office reports that observed seat-belt use across the state has lagged behind the national average in recent surveys. In its FY2023 Highway Safety Plan, the office details efforts such as the Click It or Ticket campaign and targeted occupant-protection grants that aim to boost seat-belt use on major routes like I-35. Officials say those initiatives are part of ongoing work to cut down on fatal crashes.
Authorities have not said whether Hicks was restrained at the time of the incident or whether impairment played any role, and the investigation remains open. Troopers stressed that details could change as more evidence is reviewed, according to KOKH.
