LOCAL NEWS

Chickasha woman dead, 2 children in serious condition


 A Chickasha, Okla., woman died from injuries she suffered in a vehicle crash that also left two young children in serious condition.
 Whitney R. Blakes, 35, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on U.S. Highway 81, within a mile north of County Road 1520 and two miles north of Rush Springs, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol news release.
 An 11-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy both suffered multiple injuries in the crash and were flown to the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City. They are both listed in serious condition.
 Blakes was driving a 2004 Chevy Tahoe south on U.S. 81 when, for an unknown reason, she went off the left side of the road at approximately 3:57 p.m on Thursday April 8, 2021. She then overcorrected, going off the right side of the road. The vehicle went into a roll and all three occupants were ejected, according to the news release.
 Neither Blakes nor the two children were wearing a seat belt, the news release states.
 The incident is being investigated by Trooper Michael Jewell #534 of the Grady County detachment of Troop G. Assisted by Trooper Russell Boswell #802, Trooper Jacob Mackey #694 and Trooper Jacob Dickinson #515 of Troop G, also assisted by Rush Springs FD, Rush Springs EMS, Rush Springs Police, Grady County Sheriff’s Office, Air Evac and Medical Examiner Ron Jackson.