Six teenage women have been killed in a Tuesday automotive crash in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, police stated.
The Tishomingo Excessive College college students died after their automotive collided with a semi-truck, KFOR-TV reported. The Johnston County Sheriff's Workplace advised KTEN-TV the accident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. native time at a three-way intersection.
The accident comes as site visitors fatalities stay elevated, with the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) reporting in late 2021 that the variety of site visitors deaths within the first six months of that yr have been 18.4 % larger than 2020. The variety of projected fatalities hit its highest quantity in 15 years.
In line with knowledge from LiveStories, the variety of automotive crash fatalities per 100,000 folks in Oklahoma remained elevated above the nationwide common for your entire almost 20-year interval it studied—1999 to 2018.
In line with a report from the Oklahoma Division of Public Security (DPS), the six women have been driving in a 2015 Chevy Spark. This automotive mannequin is small, solely having sufficient house to seat 4 folks.
Troopers advised KXII-TV the automotive the teenagers have been in stopped at a cease signal, then tried to make a U-turn when the semi-truck hit, knocking it again about 30 yards. The six women haven't but been recognized.
The driving force of the Spark was a 16-year-old lady, the DPS report stated. Three of the victims have been 15 years previous and two have been 17. 4 of them have been pronounced useless on the scene whereas two have been hospitalized, then died later.
The driving force of the semi-truck, who the DPS recognized as 51-year-old Valendon Burton, was not injured. Presently, the reason for the crash and the situation of the 2 drivers on the time of the crash are nonetheless beneath investigation.
In a press release posted to its Fb web page, the Johnston County Sheriff's Workplace stated native police departments and the fireplace division are helping within the investigation and response to the crash.
"Our prayers are with every of the households concerned and our neighborhood," the assertion stated. "That is an absolute tragedy which may have life lengthy [sic] results. This neighborhood and households want our assist and prayers right now."
In a press release despatched to oldsters and neighborhood members, Tishomingo Public Colleges Superintendent Bobby Waitman stated that whereas colleges shall be open Wednesday, "our focus would be the emotional well-being of our college students," including that Tishomingo Excessive College may have an area ready with counselors out there for folks to talk to.
"Our hearts are damaged, and we're grieving with our college students and workers," Waitman wrote.
The World Inhabitants Evaluate reported there have been greater than 650 deaths from automotive crashes in Oklahoma simply because the starting of 2022. When taking a look at the remainder of the nation, Oklahoma doesn't even fall into the highest 10 states with probably the most deadly crashes to date this yr.
On account of the spikes in site visitors fatalities, the Division of Transportation just lately introduced a brand new method to highway security referred to as the "Full Streets" initiative, Newsweek beforehand reported. The plan goals to gather extra security knowledge and ensure to prioritize security when designing roads.
Within the October NHTSA assertion, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg referred to as the elevated site visitors deaths "a disaster."
"Greater than 20,000 folks died on U.S. roads within the first six months of 2021, leaving numerous family members behind," he stated. "We can not and shouldn't settle for these fatalities as merely part of on a regular basis life in America."
Replace 03/22/22 6:05 p.m. EDT: This story was up to date so as to add extra data.
Replace 03/23/22 11:30 a.m. EDT: This story was up to date so as to add extra data from the Oklahoma Division of Public Security and a brand new photograph.
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