A fatal single-vehicle crash late Thursday night claimed the life of a Sallisaw man after his pickup truck veered off Hwy. 64 and caught fire.
According to a report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), the crash occurred around 11:39 p.m. on August 21, around three miles east of Sallisaw near the intersection of Hwy. 64 and N. 4670 Road.
The vehicle, a 2003 white Chevrolet pickup, was traveling eastbound when, for reasons still under investigation, it departed the roadway to the left, struck a traffic sign pole, then crossed back over the road, hitting a ditch and crashing into a tree.
The truck overturned and came to rest on its roof before becoming engulfed in flames.
The driver, believed to be a 49-year-old man from Sallisaw, was trapped inside the burning vehicle and died at the scene.
Due to the severity of the crash and the fire, troopers have not yet been able to positively identify the victim. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Tulsa is working to confirm the driver’s identity.
Trooper Jordan Galvan of Troop C is leading the investigation.
The report notes that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and that there were no passengers in the vehicle.
Next of kin have been notified, though the name of the driver is being withheld pending confirmation.
The OHP emphasized that details of the incident are preliminary and subject to change as the investigation continues.
