Published: July 07, 2009 11:19 am      

Missing man found dead

Pontotoc — An Ada man missing since Friday has been found dead.

Authorities found the body of 41-year-old James Philip “Jim” Leon inside his pickup which crashed near a bridge on U.S. 377 just north of the southern Pontotoc County Line.

On Saturday, Pontotoc County law enforcement issued a missing motorist broadcast after Leon’s family called authorities when he failed to show for work. He was reportedly last seen leaving Lake Texoma late Friday night.

Authorities in an Oklahoma Highway Patrol plane spotted Leon’s Ford F250 pickup upside down in a ravine. OHP Trooper Rob Benedict said he believes Leon fell asleep and ran off the road.

Law enforcement and family searched the highway many times but were unable to find the truck, which was hidden from view of passing motorists.

Benedict said Leon was driving north when he ran off the road to the right, traveled across the road to the left, then back across the road to the right.

The pickup continued down a roadside ditch until it hit a creek bank, became airborne and slammed into a concrete bridge abutment.

Benedict said Leon sustained head and internal injuries during the crash. Oklahoma State Medical Examiner John Miller pronounced Leon dead at the scene but said he would be taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the official cause of death.

A seat belt was in use. Leon was the owner of Daylight Donuts in Ada.

Additional troopers, sheriff’s deputies and firefighters from Ada and Stonewall also responded.