The Woodward News

Local News

September 26, 2012

Patrol: Head-on crash kills 7 near Elmwood

Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — Staff and wire reports



ELMWOOD, Okla. - An SUV veered across a highway median in the Oklahoma Panhandle early Wednesday and collided head-on with an oncoming van full of men headed to work at a Texas meatpacking plant, killing both drivers and five of the six van passengers, authorities said.

The Chevy Suburban passed a couple of trucks on Highway 412 just before it crossed the center line and collided with the van near Elmwood, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Betsy Randolph said.

One of the 7 people killed was a Woodward man, who was driving the Chevy Suburban. Bobby Carroll Matthews, 55, was pronounced dead at the scene with head, chest and internal injuries, said the OHP in its updated report late Wednesday night.

Also killed were Alejandro Mejia Lopez, 28, of Liberal, Kan., Julio Ramos Perez, 25, of Liberal, Rigoberto Toj Garcia, 24, of Liberal, Julio Cesar Don Juan Morino, 27, of Liberal, Sebastian Sucuqui Saquic, 21, of Liberal and Juan Lorenzo, 56, of Liberal. Francisco Diaz, 33, of Liberal, was taken by mediflight to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo and admitted in critical condition. Lopez was driving the van, the OHP said.



Both drivers were pinned in the vehicles for an hour and 45 minutes, the OHP said.



"It was pretty horrific," Randolph said. "The lieutenant I talked to said he'd worked in Beaver County for 24 years, and he's never seen anything like that. When you have that many bodies involved in a crash, it's terrible."

All seven of the men in the van were were headed to work at the Booker Packing Co. plant a few miles south of the Texas border in Booker, Randolph said.

Elmwood, in Beaver County, is less than 10 miles from the Texas state line. The accident happened around 6:15 a.m. on Wednesday morning

Both lanes of the highway were temporarily closed but reopened about five hours later.

 

Text Only
Local News
  • Yard of the Month contest is under way

    Do you love to landscape? Are you a gardening guru?  Do you become a Picasso when you prune?

    June 20, 2013

  • Healthy woman to focus on hot topic

    If you are a woman who has ever had the urge to rip your clothes off and stand with your head in the freezer because of a particularly bad hot flash, then tonight's Healthy Woman meeting is for you.

    June 20, 2013

  • Monster truck show to offer new thrills

    It's got loud engines, vehicles crashing and trucks popping wheelies, the likes of which most never get to witness.

    June 20, 2013

  • Amateur radio group hosting field day

    Area amateur radio operators will be putting their radio skills to the test this weekend as part of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day.
    And the public is invited to come participate and learn more about the important communication roles that ham radio play in our society.

    June 19, 2013

  • Fanning leaving commission

    After serving the City of Woodward for more than 12 years, former Mayor and Woodward City Commissioner Bill Fanning stepped down from his post Monday evening, stating “family matters” as his reason.

    June 19, 2013

  • City approves rezoning, agreements

    A rezoning request for a proposed residential community for seniors was approved during Monday's regular Woodward City Commission meeting.

    June 19, 2013

  • County OKs agreements

    Woodward County Commissioners approved a renewal contract between Oklahoma Juvenile Affairs and the county during their regularly scheduled meeting Monday morning.

    June 18, 2013

  • Infrared camera can help with safety

    Ever since Spencer Albracht can remember, he has been taking things apart, curious about just what made them work.
    "Back then, when I was a kid, I mostly couldn’t get them put back together,” Albracht joked.

    June 16, 2013

  • Celebrating with American Cancer Society

    Teams at this year's Relay for Life in Woodward had a party.
    A birthday party that is, as they celebrated the 100th anniversary of the American Cancer Society (ACS).  They also celebrated how ACS seeks to help all cancer patients celebrate more birthdays.
    So during Friday night's Relay birthday party, the guests of honor were, as they are every year, the many local cancer survivors.
    The News visited with just a few of these brave battlers who shared stories about their individual journeys to overcome cancer.

    June 16, 2013

  • Commission to take up contracts

    Approval of the annual contract with the Woodward Industrial Foundation is one of the major topics Woodward City Commissioners will discuss in their regular meeting on Monday.

    June 16, 2013