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DUI arrest made after car hits Oklahoma parade crowd, killing three DUI arrest made after car hits Oklahoma parade crowd, killing three
(about 2 hours later)
A woman was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) after a car crashed into a crowd of spectators during the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade on Saturday, killing three people and injuring 22 others. One witness said the crash sent people “flying 30ft into the air like rag dolls”. Police on Saturday said three people died and 34 were injured – eight of them critically – when a motorist plowed her car into a crowd of spectators at the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade.
Stillwater police captain Kyle Gibbs said the woman’s sedan plowed into the unattended motorcycle of an officer who was working security at the parade, then went into the crowd. The driver of the sedan was taken into custody on a DUI charge, Gibbs said. One witness said the crash sent people “flying 30ft into the air like rag dolls”.
Oklahoma State University president Burns Hargis said the homecoming game against Kansas would still be played on Saturday afternoon. A police spokesman said: “We treat these like we would any homicide investigation. It’ll probably take several days to get additional information as to the cause of the accident.”
The homecoming football game went ahead on Saturday afternoon, against Kansas. The crowd observed a moment of silence before kick-off and the US flag was lowered to half-mast at Boone Pickens Stadium. Officials considered postponing the game but decided to play it in honor of the victims of the crash.
After running on to the field, most of the Oklahoma State players knelt in prayer by the sideline.
Stillwater police released the name of the woman who was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence after the crash. The woman taken into custody was 25-year-old Adacia Chambers. Police did not identify her hometown.
The Stillwater police spokesman, Captain Kyle Gibbs, said Chambers’ sedan plowed into the unattended motorcycle of an officer who was working security at the parade, then went into the crowd.
Konda Walker, from Anchorage, Alaska, was attending the festivities ahead of the homecoming game.Konda Walker, from Anchorage, Alaska, was attending the festivities ahead of the homecoming game.
“At first we thought it was part of the show,” Walker told the Stillwater News Press. “People were flying 30 feet into the air like rag dolls.”“At first we thought it was part of the show,” Walker told the Stillwater News Press. “People were flying 30 feet into the air like rag dolls.”
Dave Kapple of Houston told the News Press that he and his son were about 10ft away when they saw the vehicle barreling into the crowd. Dave Kapple of Houston told the News Press he and his son were about 10ft away when they saw the vehicle barreling into the crowd.
“We heard somebody scream, ‘Look out!’ [The driver[ plowed through a police motorcycle, and then a crowd of people,” Kapple said. “People were flying everywhere.” “We heard somebody scream, ‘Look out!’ [The driver] plowed through a police motorcycle, and then a crowd of people,” Kapple said. “People were flying everywhere.”
Phone calls to Oklahoma State officials were not immediately returned. The university posted on Twitter: “Oklahoma State University is saddened by the tragic parade incident earlier this morning. Our thoughts & prayers are with those affected.” “I just saw smoke and saw the panic in people’s faces as they ran away from the scene,” said Geoff Haxton, of Tulsa, who attended the parade with his children.
The university posted on Twitter: “Oklahoma State University is saddened by the tragic parade incident earlier this morning. Our thoughts & prayers are with those affected.”
It was not the first tragedy to strike events connected to Oklahoma State sports programs. Ten people, including two OSU men’s basketball players, were killed in a 2001 plane crash while returning from a game in Colorado.
Oklahoma State women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda Serna were among four killed in a plane crash in Arkansas in 2011, while on a recruiting trip.
“The families, I know, and these victims will never be able to understand this, nor will we,” Oklahoma State University president Burns Hargis said. “But the Cowboy family pulls together, unfortunately we’ve had to do it before and we’re going to do it again.”