ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is investigating an accident that killed a Liberal man and woman Monday morning in Texas County, Okla.
OHP reported the fatality occurred shortly before 10:30 a.m. Monday on U.S. Highway 64 about seven miles east of Hooker, Okla., and involved a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica and 2015 Chevy Silverado.
The Pacifica’s driver, 55-year-old Francisco Vicente of Liberal, and a passenger, Maria Lux Pu, 47, of Liberal were both pronounced dead at the scene by the Hooker Fire Department and taken to Henson Novak Funeral Home in Guymon, Okla.
Three children in the Pacifica, ages 8, 6 and 11, all of Liberal, were transported by Hooker EMS to Southwest Medical Center and later transferred by Apollo to Wesley Trauma Center in Wichita. The 8-year-old was admitted for head and trunk internal injuries, while the 6-year-old and the 11-year-old were admitted for trunk internal injuries only.
Another passenger in the Pacifica, 40-year-old Marco Chicaj of Liberal, was also transported by Hooker EMS to SWMC and transferred by Apollo to Wesley Trauma Center and admitted with head and trunk internal injuries.
The Silverado’s driver, Ashton Harrison, 25, of Beaver, Okla., was transported by Hooker EMS to SWMC and later transferred to Wesley Medical Center, where he was admitted in stable condition with head and neck injuries.
Along with the cause of the accident, OHP is also investigating the condition of the drivers and the use of seat belts by both drivers and passengers in the vehicle.