Kevin Powell was charged with aggravated DUI after a crash near Hefner Point Drive in which he was ejected from his car and pinned beneath it, according to police and court documents described in a local report. Newly released body-camera footage shows firefighters freeing him from beneath the wreck.
The footage, obtained and published by KFOR, shows officers and firefighters responding. The station reported that Powell's car left the road, rolled and struck a building near Hefner Point Drive, ejecting him and trapping him underneath.
Firefighters Work to Free Him From Beneath the Wreck
During the rescue, one firefighter told Powell, “I know you're drunk; I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about the car crushing you.” Another firefighter urged him to stay calm and let the crew handle the extraction.
KFOR reported that Powell narrowly escaped major injuries. Oklahoma City police said he was alone in the vehicle. After crews freed him, first responders provided medical care and took him to a nearby hospital.
Court Documents Describe Signs of Intoxication
Court documents, as described in KFOR's report, say Powell was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and admitted to being drunk on Crown Royal whiskey. The report says those details formed the basis for the aggravated DUI charge.
Oklahoma law lays out specific consequences for impaired-driving offenses, though the evidence available does not establish which provisions apply to Powell's case or how it will ultimately be resolved. Under Oklahoma Statutes, Section 761, operating a motor vehicle while impaired can carry a fine of $100 to $500, up to six months in county jail, or both. The same statute lists driving-privilege suspensions following a final conviction — 30 days for a first offense, six months for a second, and 12 months for a third or subsequent suspension — and requires anyone found guilty, or who pleads guilty or no contest, to undergo an alcohol and drug assessment before sentencing.
It remains unclear what penalty, if any, Powell may face, since the record reviewed does not include his case's docket, plea, or current status in court.
Alcohol-Related Fatalities in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office’s 2021 Quick Facts lists 195 alcohol-related fatalities statewide in 2021, compared with 199 in 2020 and 165 in 2019. These statewide totals do not establish an Oklahoma City-specific count.
