By Chris Cordt
KRMG
SHAMROCK, Okla. — Two people are dead and a firefighter was injured in an collision on State Highway 16 near Shamrock in Creek County late Sunday afternoon.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a fire truck with its lights and sirens on tried to pass a blue van on the left on the 2-lane highway near 481st West Ave. around 3 p.m.
Troopers aren’t sure why but say the driver of the van, 68-year-old Janey Wellington of Drumright, slammed on the brakes and made a sudden left turn towards a private drive, causing the fire truck to slam into the van.
Troopers believe Wellington and her passenger, 72-year-old Tony Lee Hammock of Drumright, were killed instantly.
The driver of the Olive Fire Department fire truck, 23-year-old firefighter Joshua Perryman of Drumright, was taken to the hospital after his chest slammed into the steering wheel.
His passenger, 27-year-old William Campbell of Jennings, was not injured. The highway was closed for about two and a half hours.
The Olive Fire Department is one of several departments battling a grass fire that has been burning for three days.
Republished with permission from KRMG