Update (May 12, 2025): Authorities have identified the people involved in this accident. Minnesota resident Charles Eidem died in the crash, as did passenger Carole Eidem, both 78. Truck driver Jeffrey Schwartz, 53, of Greenwood, AR, was injured in the crash.

Atoka County, OK — May 9, 2025, two people were killed and another person was injured in a truck accident at about 9:30 a.m. on U.S. Route 69.

Authorities said a semi-truck collided with a passenger vehicle at the intersection with State Highway 43 north of Stringtown.

Two people who were in the car died in the crash, according to authorities, while the truck driver was flown to an area hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. Their names have not been made public at this point.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Atoka County crash. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary

When a crash between a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle results in multiple fatalities, one of the most important legal questions is whether either driver failed to yield the right of way. Intersections, especially those involving highways, are among the most common places for these types of failures to occur. But even that question only scratches the surface of what an effective investigation needs to address.

First, it's crucial to establish which vehicle was entering the intersection and under what circumstances. Was one driver turning onto the highway, or was there a stop sign or signal involved? These details matter because they determine who had the legal duty to yield. But equally important is whether the truck driver had time to see and react to the vehicle before the collision. That often comes down to things like the truck's speed, visibility at the intersection and any signs of distraction or fatigue.

Truck crashes are also unique in that the vehicle's onboard systems can show exactly how fast the truck was going, whether the brakes were applied and how the driver reacted in the seconds before impact. That kind of evidence is critical in cases like this, but it often requires immediate action to preserve it before it is lost or overwritten.

I mention all this because when two people lose their lives in a crash like this, the investigation has to go beyond the basics. The legal system owes it to the families involved to get a full and accurate picture of what happened, not just what was obvious at the crash scene.