Gusts cause grass fires, road closures, evacuations across Green Country

Courtesy of Jason Castleman.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Posted: 09/07/2012

TULSA - A rush of high winds hitting Green Country late Friday afternoon has resulted in a number of grass fires, road closures, power outages and evacuations.

Three people were found dead in a destroyed mobile home shortly after the burst. Family members have identified the dead as two grandparents and a granddaughter.

The winds also resulted in the death of 70-year-old man Jimmy King, whose semi truck overturned after a wind gust caught the vehicle's trailer near mile marker 308 of the Will Rogers Turnpike.

Evacuations:

Osage County -- Evacuees allowed to return to their homes.
Pawnee County -- Evacuees allowed to return to their homes.

Outages: (Total 9,519) 9:20 p.m.

Tulsa Co. 5,941
Okmulgee Co. 999
Creek Co. 140
Rogers Co. 522
Nowata Co. 355
Wagoner Co. 1,180
Craig Co. 154
Mayes Co. 228

Road Closures:

Will Rogers Turnpike at MM 308 is now open. Traffic is no longer being diverted at Afton. MM 315 WB is down to one lane.
Highway 169 north of Nowata is now open.
Highway 15 at County Road 345 in Pawnee County is now open.
State Highway 18, three miles north of Meeker in Lincoln County is now open.