A Sallisaw woman charged with first-degree manslaughter after a fatal I-40 collision in August is now scheduled for a December 10 felony disposition docket in Sequoyah County District Court, according to court records.
Cambre L. Wright, 20, was formally charged on Aug. 4 with first-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence resulting in great bodily injury, and driving under the influence by a person under the age of 21.
The charges stem from a multi-vehicle crash that occurred around 1:35 a.m. on westbound I-40 between Gans and Muldrow. According to Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), Wright was driving a Toyota Camry that collided with two semi-trucks.
John H. Beahn, 69, of Florida, was asleep in the sleeper berth of one of the semis and was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, Linda Mager, 66, was airlifted to an Arkansas hospital with serious injuries.
Troopers reported finding Wright’s disabled vehicle facing east in the westbound lanes with the airbags deployed, with Wright reportedly showing signs of impairment at the scene. A Muldrow police officer reported her blood alcohol content registered at 0.17 on a preliminary breath test, more than twice the legal limit. Wright later admitted to having consumed alcohol and using a THC vape earlier in the day, according to the affidavit.
Troopers obtained a search warrant for a blood draw, which was completed at a local hospital before Wright was booked into the Sequoyah County Detention Center.
Witnesses told investigators Wright had been traveling at more than 100 mph before the crash. One semi driver said she swerved to avoid a vehicle stopped in the roadway, only to see another truck collide with the car and lose control.
Body camera footage reviewed by investigators revealed Wright had spoken with her sister by phone shortly after the crash. During the call, it was suggested she may have visited a VFW bar near Muldrow before returning to the rodeo in Sallisaw earlier in the night.
The crash shut down I-40 for more than 13 hours while troopers investigated. Wright was not injured and later released on a $4,000 bond.
