KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas – Two North Central Texas College softball players from Kaufman County were injured last night in a tragic accident on I-35 in southern Oklahoma last night, Friday, September 26, 2014, after an 18-wheeler struck the softball team's bus.
KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas – Two North Central Texas College softball players from Kaufman County were injured last night in a tragic accident on I-35 in southern Oklahoma last night, Friday, September 26, 2014, after an 18-wheeler struck the softball team's bus.
According to accident investigators, the 18-wheeler was traveling northbound on Interstate 35 when it crossed the center median of the highway and struck the bus, which was traveling southbound, causing it to overturn at approximately 9:08 p.m. in Murray County near mile marker 47.
Three of the team members were pronounced deceased at the scene and a fourth died at a hospital. 11 remaining students were transported by various methods to area hospitals, eight were discharged Saturday, and three remain hospitalized in stable condition, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
18-year-old Bailey Buchanan of Crandall, Texas, was transported to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma by an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter and admitted in stable condition, according to a Oklahoma Highway Patrol notification released earlier this morning.
19-year-old Rachel Hitt of Scurry, Texas, was transported by Pauls Valley EMS to Pauls Valley General Hospital and then transferred to Norman Regional in stable condition, according to the notification.
The team had just played Southern Nazarene University, according to their schedule, and were returning to Texas at the time of the accident.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the highway remained closed for nearly nine hours overnight. The National Transportation Safety Board stated they would send a go-team to investigate the accident which is being treated as a homicide investigation.
The four students killed in the accident were identified as 19-year-old Meagan Richardson of Wylie, Texas, 18-year-old Katelynn Woodlee of Windom, Texas, 20-year-old Jaiden Pelton of Telephone, Texas, and 20-year-old Brooke Deckard of Blue Ridge, Texas.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol released the following list of the individuals involved in the accident:
“VEHICLE-1: 2013 Peterbilt driven by Russell Staley, White Male, age 53, address in Saginaw Texas. Transported by Murray County EMS to Pauls Valley General Hospital. Treated and Released.
VEHICLE-2: 2008 Champion Motor Coach, driven by Van Hedrick, White Male, age 48, address in Gainesville Texas. Transported by private vehicle to Mercy Hospital in Ardmore. Treated and Released. Passenger-1 Kenedi Jackson, White Female, age 19 , address in Roanoke Texas. Transported by Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service to Mercy Hospital in Ardmore, Treated and Released.
Passenger-2 Bailey Buchanan, White Female, age 18, address in Crandall Texas. Transported by Air Evac to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City , Admitted in Stable Condition.
Passenger-3 Sidney Kirk, White Female, age 18, address in Corsicana Texas. Transported by Pauls Valley EMS to Pauls Valley General Hospital. Treated and Released.
Passenger-4 Cassidy Hall, White Female, age 20, address in Ravenna Texas, Transported by Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service to Mercy Hospital in Ardmore, Treated and Released.
Passenger-5 Jessica Molina, White Female, age 18, address in Benbrook Texas. Transported by Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service to Mercy Hospital in Ardmore, Treated and Released.
Passenger-6 Emily Kuser, White Female, age 19, address in Midlothian Texas. Transported by Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service to Mercy Hospital in Ardmore, Treated and Released.
Passenger-7 Rachel Hitt, White Female, age 19, address in Scurry Texas, Transported by Pauls Valley EMS to Pauls Valley General Hospital and then transferred to Norman Regional in Stable Condition.
Passenger-8 Samantha Maddin, White Female, age 18, address in New Waverly Texas. Transported by Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service to Mercy Hospital in Ardmore, Treated and Released.
Passenger-9 Kaylea Armstrong, White Female, age 18, address in Burkburnett Texas. Transported by Eagle Med to Norman Regional in Norman in Stable Condition.
Passenger-10 Megan Durante, White Female, age 18, address in Denton Texas. Transported by Pauls Valley EMS to Pauls Valley General Hospital. Treated and Released.
Passenger-11 Savannah Matheus, Hispanic Female, age 18, address in Sanger Texas. Transported by Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service to Mercy Hospital in Ardmore, Treated and Released.
Passenger-12 Meagan Richardson, White Female, age 19, address in Wylie Texas. Pronounced at the scene by Medical Examiner LeRoy Johnson due to massive injuries.
Passenger-13 Brooke Deckard, White Female, age 20, address in Scurry Texas. Transported by Eagle Med to Arbuckle Memorial Hospital in Sulphur. Pronounced at the hospital due to massive injuries. [Editor's Note: Team records indicate Deckard is from Blue Ridge, Texas, and not Scurry, Texas.]
Passenger-14 Katelynn Woodlee, White Female, age 18, address in Windom Texas. Pronounced at the scene by Medical Examiner LeRoy Johnson due to massive injuries.
Passenger-15 Jaiden Pelton, White Female, age 20, address in Telephone Texas. Pronounced at the scene by Medical Examiner LeRoy Johnson due to massive injuries.”
