(Stillwater, Okla.) — A 26-year-old man who reportedly said he was driving from Stillwater to Cushing on Highway 177 when his pickup had a fatal rear-end collision with a car has been arraigned on a negligent homicide charge in the death of a Ripley teenager.
Matthew Gregory Loveless, 26, of Stillwater, was arrested and freed on $1,000 bond last week on the misdemeanor charge, which carries a maximum penalty on conviction of a one-year jail term and $1,000 fine. He was ordered to return to court on Feb. 10.
The victim, 19-year-old Larkin Gray, who died at the scene, was a passenger in a Toyota that had slowed or stopped to turn left into Solitaire Homes at 3:45 p.m. on May 4, 2014, according to an affidavit by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper James Ritze.
“Loveless stated briefly that he was driving southbound on U.S. Highway 177 and did not see the car in front of him until the last second.
“Loveless also stated that he tried to swerve to the right to miss the vehicle, but it was too late and he struck the vehicle,” the affidavit alleged.
“Loveless stated that he was going from Stillwater to Cushing for work.
“Loveless stated that he is a merchandiser for Coca Cola Co., was in Stillwater for business, finished his business, and was in the process of heading back to Cushing.
“Loveless stated that he was in the inside lane in order to turn left to go back to Cushing.
“Loveless stated that he was traveling at 65 m.p.h. and his car was on cruise control because he was on the clock and getting compensated for his travel time so there was no need to speed.
“Loveless stated that the other vehicle was traveling in the same lane ahead of him.
“Loveless then stated that he does not remember seeing brake lights, a turn signal, or any indications that the other vehicle was stopping.
“Loveless stated that he just all of a sudden came upon the car, attempted to swerve, but it was too late and struck the vehicle.
“Loveless stated that he proceeded to get out of his car and call his parents and then the police.
“I asked Loveless to clarify if he had his cell phone on his person at the time of the accident while driving.
“Loveless stated that he keeps it plugged in and in his pocket because he keeps his headphones in.
“I asked Loveless if he was on his cell phone while driving – inquiring if he was talking to anyone at the time of the accident.
“Loveless stated no, he was not talking to anyone,” the trooper wrote in his affidavit.
“Based on the death of Gray, I made the call to then transport Loveless to Stillwater Medical Center in order to get a blood draw.
“The blood test results came back negative of having any drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of the collision,” the trooper wrote in his affidavit.
The driver of the car, a Toyota Scion, said “prior to the collision she had picked up her son and his girlfriend from Stillwater and was traveling to Solitaire Homes in order to view a home,” the affidavit said.
The Toyota driver said “she was traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 177 and was preparing to turn left into Solitaire Homes,” and had signaled to turn left, the affidavit said.
The Toyota driver said “she was slowed down, but could not recall if she was at a complete stop yet or just traveling slowly,” and that “the next thing she remembers was being struck by a vehicle and propelled into the ditch,” the affidavit said.
OHP Lt. Gabe Leach obtained a search warrant for digital evidence from the air bag control module for Loveless’s Dodge Ram pickup and concluded that the airbags did not deploy, the affidavit alleged.
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