Tyrone Man Dies in Highway 54 Accident

A fatality accident occurred on Tuesday February 14th at approximately 12:15 pm on US Highway 54 and Kaufman Road, approximately 2 miles northeast of Optima, OK, in Texas County.

A 2016 Ram pickup driven by Garret L. Vanvleet,61, of Liberal, was headed northeast on US-54 driving into heavy wind causing blowing sand, soil, and dirt conditions and was stopped in the road way due to a previous collision that involved a Truck/ Trailer. A 2012 Dodge Journey driven by Scott Dale Morrell, age 69, of Tyrone, OK was traveling at a speed too fast for conditions and was not able to avoid collision with the Ram pick up.

Vanvleet was pinned in the pickup for approximately 20 minutes. Morrell and a passenger in the Journey, Stacy Marie Vargas, 49, of Tyrone, were pinned for approximately 20 minutes.

Vanvleet was transported by Hooker EMS to Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, where he was in Stable condition with head, trunk internal, trunk external and leg injuries.

Morrell, was transported by Hooker EMS to Southwest Medical Center in Liberal where he succumbed to injuries sustained in accident.

Vargas, transported by Hooker EMS to Southwest Medical Center in Liberal where she was admitted in stable condition with head, arms, trunk internal, trunk external, and leg injuries.