A 64-year-old woman from Mead was killed early Sunday after her car left U.S. Highway 70 in Bryan County and burst into flames, authorities said. Emergency crews rushed to the stretch of highway near Leavenworth Trail in the pre-dawn hours and troopers remained on scene for several hours. State investigators are now working to determine what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway.
Crash details from state troopers
As reported by KTEN, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said troopers were dispatched at about 5:47 a.m. after receiving a call about a vehicle that had veered off U.S. Highway 70 near Leavenworth Trail. According to the patrol, the car struck a culvert and then a fence before catching fire. The driver, identified only as a 64-year-old Mead resident, died in the wreck. Officials said the crash remains under investigation and did not immediately release the woman’s name.
Neighbors call the crossing dangerous
The Leavenworth Trail intersection has a history of collisions, and local residents have pushed for safety improvements in recent years, according to a 2024 report by KXII. Neighbors told the station the junction can turn "hectic" during busy hours and some have urged officials to install a traffic signal or a four-way stop to slow drivers coming through. The corridor has seen several serious crashes over the past few years, fueling repeated calls for changes from motorists in the Mead and Durant area.
Investigation ongoing
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol continues to investigate the early-morning wreck and has not released additional information about possible contributing factors, as KTEN reported. Troopers typically file an official crash report once their investigation is complete, and authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the patrol. In the meantime, drivers in Bryan County are again being urged to use extra caution on rural stretches of highway, especially during low-light early-morning hours.
