LeFlore County, OK (September 2, 2026) – A woman was killed on Tuesday afternoon, September 1, when the car she was driving struck a commercial truck and overturned on U.S. Highway 259 near Octavia. It happened around 2:35 p.m. at the intersection with Zafra Road.
Chelsea Patterson, 37, of Honobia, was driving south on Highway 259 behind the truck when it began turning onto Zafra Road, according to troopers. Patterson attempted to pass the truck as it turned, and the two vehicles collided.
Patterson’s car then overturned, and she was ejected from the vehicle. She died from her injuries. Two passengers in her car were also injured, and one of them was ejected as well.
Troopers said not all of the car’s occupants were wearing seatbelts. The truck driver, a Fort Smith, Arkansas, resident, was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured. The wreck remains under investigation.
Our condolences go out to Patterson’s family and loved ones, and we hope for a full recovery for both passengers.
Why Is Passing a Turning Vehicle So Risky?
Passing a vehicle that’s in the middle of a turn is one of the riskier maneuvers a driver can attempt, since a turning vehicle can slow dramatically or shift position with little warning. A driver committing to a pass has to judge not only oncoming traffic but also the exact moment and direction the turning vehicle will move.
Rollovers following a side-impact strike often happen when a vehicle’s tires catch the pavement at an angle during the collision, causing it to tip rather than come to a controlled stop. Ejection risk rises significantly in this kind of event, since an unbelted occupant has nothing keeping them inside the vehicle as it rolls.
Seatbelt use remains one of the clearest factors separating a survivable rollover from a fatal one. A properly worn belt keeps an occupant positioned against the seat throughout a roll, while someone without one can be thrown against the interior or ejected entirely, dramatically increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
