A 35-year-old Broken Bow woman died Monday evening after a violent head-on collision on U.S. Highway 259 near Carson Creek Road in McCurtain County, authorities said.
Troopers identified the driver as Savanna Ennis. Emergency crews were called to the scene around 5 p.m., and Ennis later died from her injuries. Investigators have not yet said why her vehicle left its lane.
According to KOKH/OKC Fox, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol told the station that Ennis’ vehicle went approximately 535 feet along the ditch line before coming back onto the highway, then continued another 114 feet before crossing the center line and striking an oncoming vehicle head-on. The station reports troopers said Ennis died as a result of her injuries. The story was published early Tuesday morning.
Rural stretch of U.S. 259 carries familiar risks
Data from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office show that two-lane state highways account for a large share of fatal crashes in Oklahoma, and county-level crash records indicate rural counties such as McCurtain regularly see deadly wrecks.
The sequence described by troopers - a vehicle leaving the roadway, traveling in the ditch, returning to the pavement, then crossing the center line into oncoming traffic - is a scenario crash investigators routinely study when looking at factors like speed, possible impairment, distraction or a medical issue.
Troopers still piecing together what happened
KOKH/OKC Fox reports that troopers have not said what caused Ennis’ vehicle to leave the roadway and have not yet publicly detailed whether the people in the other vehicle suffered serious injuries. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate and may release additional information as the work moves forward.
Officials have not released further details, and the investigation remains active. This story will be updated as troopers or other authorities make more information available.
