Editor's Note: This article has been updated to clarify the crash casualties and the source of the college's statement.
Ethan Girdner, a freshman soccer player at Eastern Oklahoma State College who helped Sallisaw High School win a state championship in 2026, died in a September 13 crash in Latimer County. The other vehicle's driver and a passenger in Girdner's vehicle were reported injured, not killed, according to updated reporting by 5NEWS.
Sallisaw Public Schools announced Girdner's death on September 14, 2026. The district remembered him as a dedicated student and soccer and football player who was devoted to his family, teammates and friends, according to 5NEWS. He had recently begun his freshman year at Eastern Oklahoma State College.
In its September 16 update, 5NEWS reported that the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety confirmed the crash occurred around 9:20 p.m. on September 13 on U.S. 270. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol account cited by the station, an eastbound vehicle struck a deer, crossed into the oncoming lane and collided with the vehicle Girdner was driving. Girdner died as a result of the collision.
College Shares Condolences Through Official Social Media
Eastern Oklahoma State College communicated its condolences through its official social media account. In correspondence requesting a correction, the college's marketing coordinator, Clara Duncan, clarified that the statement was published by the college and was not issued directly by President Randy Harp. The condolences should therefore be attributed to the college rather than presented as remarks Harp delivered directly.
The college's correspondence did not provide or confirm additional details about the incident.
