Oklahoma Highway Patrol is investigating after a man who took off on foot from a crash on Interstate 44 was later found dead in a wooded area. The wreck happened Friday near mile marker 138, just south of Arcadia Lake, and relatives located the man in the nearby wood line on Saturday, authorities said.
According to The Oklahoman, one person ran into the trees after the crash. Troopers combed the area for several hours, then eventually halted the search to return to regular patrol duties, Lt. Mark Southall told the paper, while investigators stayed on scene working the collision.
OHP response and jurisdiction
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety's highway patrol division handles crash investigations on the state’s interstates and coordinates with local agencies when it comes to recoveries and processing scenes, the agency notes. Information from the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety explains that troopers have primary enforcement authority on interstate highways in Oklahoma, including the stretch of I-44 that runs through northeast Oklahoma City.
Family finds body, identity unreleased
Officials have not yet released the man’s name, and the circumstances of his death remain under investigation. The Oklahoman reports that family members found him deeper in the wooded area on Saturday, and troopers continued gathering details about the crash and what unfolded afterward.
Legal context
In Oklahoma, leaving the scene of a crash that results in injury or death can bring felony charges and potential prison time, with penalties that escalate based on how serious the injuries are, legal guides say. As outlined by FindLaw, provisions in Title 47 of state law spell out drivers’ duties to stop and the consequences for failing to do so.
Authorities are asking anyone who has information about the crash or the man who left the scene to contact the Oklahoma Highway Patrol or local law enforcement. The department’s website lists troop contact numbers and options for submitting information, and OHP is urging anyone who witnessed the collision to reach out to investigators.
