PONCA CITY, OK – A tragic crash in Kay County late Friday night left one woman dead and two others with minor injuries. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) confirmed that the accident occurred at 11:48 p.m. at the intersection of US-77 and Coleman Road, approximately one mile north of Ponca City.
Authorities identified the victim as 37-year-old Shannon Laird of Ponca City, who was driving a 2009 Pontiac. According to the OHP report, Laird’s vehicle was traveling westbound on Coleman Road when she failed to yield at a stop sign, crossing in front of a southbound 2023 Hyundai. The Hyundai, driven by 69-year-old Orville Wilks of Ponca City, collided with the driver’s side of Laird’s vehicle.
The force of the impact pushed both vehicles into the center median, where Laird’s car caught fire. Emergency personnel arrived on the scene, but Laird was pronounced dead from her injuries. She remained pinned inside her vehicle for approximately three hours before being extricated.
Wilks and his passenger, 67-year-old Randy Wilks, were both transported to Integris Health in Ponca City by emergency medical services. They were treated for minor injuries and later released. Authorities confirmed that both were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, while Laird’s seatbelt usage remains unknown.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, including Laird’s condition at the time of the collision. OHP Trooper Vaughan, along with Trooper Byrd from the Traffic Homicide Unit, is leading the investigation.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to traffic signals and exercising caution at intersections. As authorities continue their investigation, they urge drivers to remain vigilant on the roads to prevent further tragedies.
