Memorial Day weekend was marred in Blaine County by a fatal auto crash and a second injury accident. According to a report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the fatality occurred at 11:40 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 270 and 2520 Road, five miles west of Watonga. Most of the details remain under investigation, but what is known is a Nissan Pathfinder driven by Maribel Gonzales, 40, of Custer City collided with a Chevrolet Tahoe driven By Dylan Morris, 26, of Woodward. Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene; Morris was transported by air ambulance to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City where he was admitted in critical condition. Three passengers in the Gonzales vehicle were injured. Pablo Macias Avila, 50, of Custer City, was transported to Mercy Watonga and later transferred to OU Medical in Oklahoma City. No condition was released. Two other passengers, aged 15 and 4-years-old, were each treated and released from Mercy Hospital Watonga. Each driver was apparently in a normal condition at the time of the accident and all involved were wearing seatbelts. OHP, Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, Watonga Police Department, Watonga Fire and EMS and AirEvac all responded to the accident.
The second accident occurred at 6:51 p.m. at the intersection of OK 58 and First Street in Longdale.
Michael Kenny, 20, of Choctaw, was riding a dirt bike when he struck some debris and flipped the bike end over end. He was transported to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City in stable condition with leg injuries. The cause of the accident is listed as unsafe speeds for conditions. Kenny was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. The accident was investigated by the OHP, Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, the Longdale Fire Department, Watonga EMS and AirEvac.