Near fatal accident near Winstar World Casino

Thackerville, OK – Approximately at 2:12 p.m., a heavy-duty commercial crane truck overturned heading South on the 35E eastbound service road near exit 1 from the current expanding Winstar World Casino. The crane truck is believed to be from the current construction site for the expansion of the casino.

Local Gainesville business owner James Hooper of Empire Shuttle & Roadside Service witnessed the crane truck traveling at a higher rate of speed which resulted in the near-death rollover.

I had just exited off from 35E headed to the Winstar to drop off a customer. I immediately noticed a commercial crane truck from beyond the second turn lose control and began to tilt over on its left side heading straight towards me. Without hesitation, I quickly stopped while observing my rearview mirror for followers. No one was behind me so I reversed my truck and backed up about 50 feet to clear a reasonable safety radius for the impact zone. At the moment the crane truck ended its slide into the ditch, my customer called 911 while I ran to the overturned truck to help rescue the driver. 2 other men joined and assisted me at the overturned truck to successfully extract the driver and help him to a safe area away from a potential explosion due to leaking fuel.

After the male driver was safely relocated away from the vehicle, I noticed that traffic was beginning to back up so with my safety vest on, I proceeded to guide traffic for a few minutes until the Casino's firefighters showed up. Before I left, I updated a firefighter that there is a confirmed fuel leak & the male driver appears to be responsive at this time, witness James Hooper said.

At the time of departure, the young male driver was observed walking away with non-life-threatening injuries.