Laverne man killed in Beaver County wreck

November 22, 2011

An 18 year-old Laverne, Okla. man was killed early Sunday morning when an animal ran in front of his vehicle on a county road south of Gate, Okla.
Jesus Garcia, 18, of Laverne was driving a 1999 Chevy pickup northbound about a half-mile south of Gate at 4:10 a.m. when an unknown animal ran in front of the vehicle. Garcia swerved left to avoid the animal, entered a broad slide, went into the left ditch, rolled once, coming to rest on its wheels.
The driver was pinned inside the vehicle for an hour and 30 minutes.
The driver was taken to Harper County Community Hospital in Buffalo, then mediflighted to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City. He was pronounced dead at 9:50 a.m. from head, trunk and external injuries.
A passenger in the vehicle, 18 year-old Patricia McElveen of Laverne, was taken to Harper County Community Hospital, was treated and released.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol report, seat belts were not in use.
The accident was investigated by Trooper Michael Eckhardt of the Beaver Detachment, assisted by Trooper Chase Miller, Laverne EMS and fire, and the Slapout Fire Department.