Miami, OK (August 18, 2025) –Zac Rinehart, a 36-year-old maintenance worker with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, was killed, and another worker was critically injured, on Monday morning when a semi-truck veered off the road and into a work zone on the Will Rogers Turnpike near Miami.
Accident Details: According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), the semi driver dropped a device inside the cab and attempted to retrieve it when he veered off the road. Rinehart was outside collecting debris when the truck struck him, killing him at the scene. After, the truck crashed into a parked OTA vehicle where another worker was. This worker was airlifted to a hospital in Joplin, Missouri, in critical condition.
The truck driver was not injured and is cooperating with investigators. Once the investigation is finished, OHP will forward its findings for review of potential charges.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: Investigators will further analyze the cab evidence and interview the driver. Authorities will also examine how the work zone was set up, including signage, cones, and visibility, to determine whether proper warnings were in place for approaching traffic.
Skid marks, roadway evidence, and black box data will help establish the truck’s speed, braking, and trajectory before impact.
I extend my deepest condolences to Zac Rinehart’s family and to the injured worker.
Source: News on 6