Two students killed, four hurt after truck hits high school cross-country team

Tim Willert and Josh Dulaney, The Oklahoman
·2 min read

MOORE, Okla. – A second student has died in the aftermath of Monday’s vehicle crash in which a pickup truck struck several runners near an Oklahoma high school, police said.

Yuridia Martinez, a sophomore, died from her injuries Tuesday less than 24 hours after the pickup truck, driven by Max Leroy Townsend, 57, hit a group of six cross country runners around 3:30 p.m., killing one at the scene and sending the others to the hospital.

Rachel Freeman, 17, died Monday.

Officials said other students struck by the pickup were Shiloh Hutchinson, a junior who underwent surgery for a broken arm and a broken leg; Joseph White, a senior who is no longer in critical condition, but remains hospitalized; Kolby Crum, a senior who remains in critical condition; and Ashton Baza, sophomore who was released after being treated for a broken leg and a broken ankle.

Students were running on the sidewalk when they were hit, Moore Superintendent Robert Romines said.

Emergency crews respond to a scene where six Moore High School students were hit by a truck killing two in Moore, Okla. on Feb. 3.
Emergency crews respond to a scene where six Moore High School students were hit by a truck killing two in Moore, Okla. on Feb. 3.

Townsend was being held Tuesday at the Cleveland County Detention Center on one complaint of manslaughter and six complaints of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury.

Authorities said he may have been intoxicated. The area speed limit is 25 mph.

“Bodies were all over Main Street,” said Police Sgt. Jeremy Lewis. “The injuries would indicate he was going faster than the speed limit."

Police said Townsend's son, Cody Townsend, 29, was killed Sunday after he rear-ended another vehicle.

The five injured students Monday were transported to OU Medical Center. Three of the five students were in critical condition.

Between 150 and 200 students witnessed the wreck, school officials said. Some students called 911. Others followed the pickup.

“A lot of students witnessed the actual crash and were on the scene when we arrived,” Lewis said. “Some of those actually pointed out the direction the vehicle continued on, which helped us locate the vehicle.”

The students who were hit were part of the track and cross country team. The crash occurred about two blocks east of the school’s athletic complex, authorities said.

Dustin Horstkoetter, safety director for Moore Public Schools, was emotional as he told reporters the student-athletes were on a group run.

“To come around the corner and see kids and coaches give first aid and help their classmates and their students," he said. “We live in a real good community. My heart is hurting and broken.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK): Moore High School: Oklahoma cross-country runners hit by truck; 2 dead