Published: August 01, 2009 11:29 am      

State Briefs

Man drowns in Durant Lake

DURANT, Okla. (AP) — Authorities say a Mannsville man has drowned while fishing on Durant Lake.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says two other fishermen found 62-year-old William C. Collier floating in the lake Friday morning about 10 a.m.

The patrol says Collier had checked in at the lake between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and went out in his boat. For an unknown reason, Collier fell out of the boat into the water.

The patrol says the other fishermen, who had seen Collier earlier, noticed his boat was adrift and no one was around. They found him a short time later.

The patrol says a floatation device wasn’t in use.



Woman hit by train in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Authorities say a woman who was struck by a train has died.

Oklahoma City police say witnesses told them the woman, whose name wasn’t released, was lying on railroad tracks on the city’s northwest side before she was hit about 4 p.m. Friday.

Sgt. Charlie Phillips says the woman died at a local hospital.

Julia Venegas and her mother, Crystal Venegas, say they noticed the woman as their vehicle was crossing the tracks just before warning lights and bells activated.

Julia Venegas says they pulled over, jumped out and tried to warn the Burlington Northern Santa Fe train.

Crystal Venegas said the train conductor attempted to stop. She says the woman stood up as the train approached and extended her arms above her head.



Marine from Okla. killed in Afghanistan

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Department of Defense is confirming that two Marines from Tennessee and Oklahoma have been killed in combat in Afghanistan.

The department said Saturday that 22-year-old Lance Cpl. Gregory A. Posey, 22, of Knoxville, Tenn., and 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Jonathan F. Stroud, of Cashion, Okla., died Thursday supporting combat operations in Helmand province.

Those who knew Stroud in the small town of Cashion say he was well-liked and had a good sense of humor. The town is about 20 miles north of Oklahoma City, with a population of about 635.

The two Marines were both assigned to battalions based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Two killed in fire at St. Louis, Okla.

SAINT LOUIS, Okla. (AP) — Officials say a couple who owned and operated a gas station and store in the town of Saint Louis were killed in a fire at their home.

Oklahoma State Fire Marshal’s spokeswoman JoAnne Sellars says the son of 66-year-old Robert Gregg and 62-year-old Linda Gregg found them about 7 a.m. Friday after noticing the station wasn’t open for business.

Sellars says investigators believe the couple was overcome by smoke as they tried to escape.

She says when firefighters arrived, the blaze had extinguished itself after consuming all the oxygen in the home.

Sellars says fire investigators have determined the blaze was accidental and occurred mainly in the living room of the home, located in Pottawatomie County.

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Information from: The Shawnee News-Star, http://www.news-star.com and The Oklahoman, www.newsok.com