GLENPOOL, Okla. — A 9-year-old Glenpool student died in a crash around 7:30 a.m. on State Highway 67 on Sept. 8.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials said five cars were involved in the wreck, and the road was closed for a significant time.
According to OHP, a vehicle going westbound swerved to avoid hitting a semi-truck that was turning left from Fern Road (also known as Warrior Road) eastbound onto 151st (SH67). The vehicle went over the median and crashed into other vehicles in the left turn lane on the eastbound side of the highway.
WATCH: City of Glenpool officials address fatal accident on 151st Street:
Troopers said three others were injured, some seriously. The injured were taken to a Tulsa hospital.
City leaders held a news conference the afternoon of Sept. 8.
City Manager David Tillotson said the city was requesting a speed reduction along 151st Street, but that the Department of Transportation would have to approve the change.
2 News told you in July how people living in Glenpool wanted to see changes to increase safety along 151st Street.
Previous Coverage >>> 'We want to see lights': People call for safety measures on Glenpool road
Glenpool Public Schools Superintendent Curtis Layton released a statement on behalf of the district in response to the deadly crash:
This morning, Glenpool Public Schools tragically lost a student in a traffic accident. A group of students who were in the vicinity witnessed the accident. The Glenpool Community mourns the loss of one of our Warriors. The district is working with our internal and external counseling services to ensure our staff, students, and families are supported throughout the grieving process. Crisis teams will be on site to support students, staff, and families.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation sent the following statement to 2 News:
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation grieves with the Glenpool community and family who suffered such a tragic loss in the fatal crash on SH-67. Our hearts and thoughts are with them. While law enforcement continues its investigation, ODOT will evaluate the site conditions for safety. This is standard procedure after any fatality crash on an interstate or state highway.
Public safety is ODOT’s first priority. Safety improvement projects must be backed by data and engineering to ensure the right improvements for the conditions.
Several months ago ODOT expedited a safety study on SH-67/151st S.near US-75 to help determine solutions more quickly. ODOT expects the study to be complete by the end of the year. The specific improvements and locations have not been determined but will be done in consultation with the City of Glenpool and driven by collision and other data along the corridor.
2 News spoke with Glenpool resident Breesy Hopper after she attended a community prayer at Morris Park dedicated to the boy, whose identity has not been publicized as of Sept. 8.
"It cuts real deep," Hopper said. "Any loss is hard, but a child loss? A nine-year-old? that cuts hard."
WATCH: 9-year-old boy killed in Glenpool crash
Hopper said she and others have called on ODOT to help their city, and have had enough.
"We're definitely as a community trying to come together to try and get ODOT to do their job," she said. "We want them to not wait until the end of this year. We want something to happen now. Yesterday was too late."
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