One person was killed and another injured Friday in a collision between a pickup and a tractor-trailer on U.S. 70 near Grandfield, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The crash involved a westbound Kenworth tractor-trailer hauling lumber and an eastbound Ram 5500 pickup and shut down the highway while crews worked the scene. Troopers said the wreck happened about a half-mile west of Tillman County Road N2390.
Trooper Michael Witt told The Lawton Constitution that the Kenworth was driven westbound by Tyler L. Bates and the Ram by Jeremy T. Bench. According to Witt’s account to the paper, Bench “went left of center” before colliding with the truck. The impact left one person dead and another injured, officials said, as traffic backed up along the two-lane highway.
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and local first responders handled the scene while investigators documented evidence and crews removed the wreckage. Roadwork and cleanup kept traffic delayed for several hours as troopers processed the crash site. Authorities have not announced any charges related to the collision, according to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.
What investigators are looking at
Troopers are examining whether the pickup’s reported lane departure was the primary factor in the crash and will complete a formal collision report as part of the case file. Witt’s description to The Lawton Constitution provided the initial public details about the wreck. Officials have asked anyone with additional information or dash-cam footage from that stretch of U.S. 70 near Grandfield to contact local authorities.
