Lawton, OK (June 29, 2026) – A 62-year-old Lawton man died after his vehicle veered off the road and struck a bridge abutment on Meers Porter Hill Road, about 0.3 miles west of Northwest Allison Road, early on Saturday morning, June 27. The wreck happened just before 2:30 a.m.
The vehicle was traveling westbound when it left the roadway and struck the abutment. It then continued off the road, rolled halfway, and came to rest upside down.
The driver, identified as Devin Miller, was ejected during the collision, and the vehicle came to rest on top of him. Miller was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under active investigation by state troopers.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Devin Miller.
What Role Does Seatbelt Use Play in Ejection Crashes?
Ejection from a vehicle during a crash is far more likely when a seatbelt is not worn. A seatbelt keeps an occupant inside the vehicle’s protective frame, which is designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the people inside. Without that restraint, even a moderate collision can send an occupant through a window or door opening before the vehicle comes to a full stop.
When a vehicle rolls or overturns, the risk of ejection increases significantly. An unrestrained occupant has little to hold them in place as the vehicle changes direction repeatedly, and the forces involved can throw a person clear of the vehicle entirely. In cases where a vehicle comes to rest on top of an ejected occupant, the outcome is almost always fatal.
Bridge abutments and other fixed roadway structures present a particularly severe hazard when a vehicle leaves the roadway at speed. Unlike soft terrain, these concrete or masonry structures do not absorb any of the impact, meaning the full force of the collision is transferred directly to the vehicle and its occupants.
