Published: July 27, 2009 11:30 am      

One dies, several injured in wrecks

Pottawatomie County — One man died and several others were injured in two area wrecks over the weekend.

The first wreck occurred Saturday on U.S. 177 in Pottawatomie County just before 11 p.m. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Winrow said Otis Laverne Dawson, 86, Meeker, was driving north when he crossed the center line and hit another vehicle driven south by Earla Aldridge, 43, Hanna.

Dawson died at the “scene from massive trauma to the torso,” Winrow said.

Earla Aldridge was pinned for 15 minutes. She was taken by Medi Flight to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City and admitted with a head injury. She is listed as stable.

Two passengers in Aldridge’s vehicle, 51-year-old Allen Aldridge, Hanna, and Kallie Crawford, 12, Holdenville, were taken by ambulance to a local hospital where they were treated and released with various injuries.

Winrow said Dawson was not wearing a seat belt.

The second wreck happened in Murray County on a county road just north of Dougherty at 5:45 p.m. Sunday.

OHP Trooper Clary said Mark Swearingen, 35, Sulphur, was driving a 2008 ASVE motorcycle west on the county road when he hit a dog.

Swearingen was ejected 95 feet. He was taken by Eagle Med to OUMC and admitted in fair condition with a head injury. He was not wearing a helmet, Clary said.