By Jeff Shultz

Publisher

Two Garvin County residents were seriously injured early Thursday morning, August 2, in a one-vehicle crash that occurred shortly after midnight on a county road three miles west of Pauls Valley.

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), the accident was due to the driver of a 2007 Chevrolet Pickup traveling at a high rate of speed.

Injured in the accident were Dalton Wagenblast, 21, of Elmore City, and James Russell, 26, of Lindsay.

Both were flown to the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City. Wagenblast was admitted in serious condition while Russell was admitted in critical condition.

According to the OHP, the pickup was traveling east bound at a high rate of speed when for some reason it left the roadway to the left, struck a ditch and overturned several times before landing on its side.

The OHP reported the driver of the vehicle has not been determined yet.

Wagenblast, the OHP reported, was ejected approximately 70 feet from the point where the pickup came to rest while Russell was ejected approximately 90 feet.

Both men were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of crash.

Trooper Heath Green of the Garvin County Detachment investigated the accident.

The Pauls Valley Fire and Police Departments, Rush Creek Fire Department and the Garvin County Sheriff’s Office assisted Green in the investigation.