A quiet stretch of Oklahoma Highway 88 near the small Rogers County community of Tiawah turned deadly Wednesday morning when two drivers were killed in a head-on collision, authorities said. Investigators say one vehicle crossed the center line and slammed into an oncoming car. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene, and troopers shut down the rural highway for hours while they worked the crash. Officials have not released the victims' names.
What troopers say happened
According to state troopers at the scene, the wreck involved two vehicles, each with a single occupant, and took place Wednesday morning along Highway 88. Early reports indicate one driver drifted or veered across the center line for reasons that are still unclear, hitting the other vehicle head-on. Next of kin has been notified for one of the victims. Emergency crews, including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and local responders, remained on site for several hours, mapping the scene and documenting evidence before the road could reopen.
The stretch of road
State Highway 88 runs northwest out of Claremore and passes through the Tiawah area, according to Oklahoma State Highway 88. This portion of the route is a two-lane rural road with limited shoulders and plenty of curves, a combination that can turn any mistake into a catastrophic head-on crash.
Why rural roads are so deadly
National safety data show rural roads carry an outsized share of the country's traffic deaths. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that rural areas make up a large share of the nation's public road miles and nearly half of crash fatalities. Collisions on two-lane rural highways are more likely to be head-on or involve a vehicle leaving the roadway, and they more often turn fatal because of higher typical speeds and longer emergency response times.
Investigation still active
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is still piecing together what led up to the collision and has not released further information on potential contributing factors, FOX23 reports. Troopers are asking anyone who may have seen the crash or who has dash-cam video from that stretch of Highway 88 on Wednesday morning to contact OHP investigators. This story will be updated as authorities release more details.
