A commercial vehicle crossed the center line on State Highway 28 in Mayes County, Oklahoma, setting off a chain of collisions that left 47-year-old Justin Tune of Vinita dead Tuesday afternoon.
The crash occurred near County Road N 431 shortly before 2:30 p.m. Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers responded after receiving reports of a serious multi-vehicle accident along the highway.
Investigators say Tune was traveling eastbound when his commercial vehicle unexpectedly drifted across the center yellow line. What happened next involved two separate collisions with vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.
The commercial vehicle first clipped a trailer attached to an oncoming truck. It then struck a second westbound vehicle head-on. The two impacts turned an otherwise ordinary stretch of highway into the scene of a fatal wreck.
Emergency responders arrived and began attending to those involved. Despite their response, Tune did not survive his injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not identified the occupants of the other two vehicles. Officials have also not provided details about their conditions or confirmed whether anyone else was injured. Those details remain undisclosed.
The circumstances that caused Tune’s vehicle to cross the center line are still unclear. Investigators have not established whether a mechanical problem, driver-related issue or another factor contributed to the crash. No cause has been officially announced.
Emergency personnel remained at the scene for hours as they documented the collision and worked to remove the wreckage. Their work was necessary to clear the damaged vehicles and allow normal traffic to resume.
The fatal crash has left Tune’s family and friends mourning his unexpected death. The Vinita resident was 47 years old, and his death has added another difficult loss to a community now facing the aftermath of the tragedy.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision. Until their investigation provides further answers, the reason Tune’s commercial vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic remains unknown.
Incident Location: Near County Road N 431 on State Highway 28, Mayes County, Oklahoma.