Tonkawa, OK (June 20, 2026) – Three people were hurt in a collision on Interstate 35 near mile marker 215 in Tonkawa on Thursday morning.
The collision happened at about 10:43 a.m. on June 18, in the southbound lanes of I-35. A vehicle driven by Melvin Martinez, 43, of Dallas, Texas, was stopped in the outside lane when a vehicle driven by Emilie Kristoff, 29, of Bondurant, Iowa, struck it from behind.
Martinez’s vehicle left the interstate to the right and overturned after the impact. Kristoff was not hurt, but her passenger was injured. Not everyone inside that vehicle was wearing a seat belt, according to the report.
Martinez and one of his two passengers were also injured. Both were wearing seat belts at the time of the collision. Additional details about the people involved were not released in the initial report. The investigation into the crash is continuing as more information is reviewed.
We are keeping those injured in our thoughts as they recover.
How Rear-End Collisions Can Lead to Vehicle Overturns
Rear-end collisions can trigger a chain reaction that may send vehicles in unexpected directions. The force from one vehicle striking another can cause a driver to lose control, especially when the vehicle is stopped or moving slowly.
Several factors can influence what happens after a rear-end crash, including vehicle size, speed, roadway design, and the vehicles’ positions before contact. A vehicle leaving its travel lane may encounter additional hazards due to uneven ground or roadside features.
Safety features such as seat belts are designed to help protect people inside vehicles during sudden movements. Reviewing vehicle damage, roadway markings, and other available details can help explain how a collision developed and why the vehicles came to rest where they did.
