10/02/2023 – On the 1st of October, 2023, at approximately 7:25 PM, an incident occurred on US-169, just 3/10 of a mile south of E 800 and approximately 5 miles north of Lenapah, Oklahoma, within Nowata County, as reported by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
A 2016 Jeep Renegade, driven by Natalie Kelley, 48, of Owasso, was traveling southbound on US-169, while a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer, driven by Carolyn Howard, a 72 of South Coffeyville, Oklahoma was traveling northbound. The Jeep struck a deer that had entered the roadway, subsequently sending the deer into the windshield of the Blazer. The impact caused the deer to pass through Vehicle-2 and exit through the rear window.
The driver of the Jeep, Ms. Kelley did not sustain any injuries. Ms. Howard was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 7:32 PM by Nowata EMS due to the injuries she sustained in the collision.
Both drivers were found to be in apparently normal condition. The collision’s cause was attributed to the presence of an animal on the roadway. The road was dry, and the weather was clear at the time of the incident. Both drivers were equipped with seatbelts, which were in use at the time of the collision. However, the airbags in both vehicles, although equipped, did not deploy.
Please note that this report is based on the trooper’s investigation and may contain the trooper’s opinions.
