Sarah E. Davidson
(file photo)
By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A 31-year-old Perkins woman — arrested Sunday night in connection with a fatal crash at 4:33 pm on Dec. 6, 2021, on Highway 33 from which her 9-year-old stepson was killed and her 11-year-old stepson seriously injured — remained held in the Payne County Jail this morning on $50,000 bail on felony charges of first-degree manslaughter and causing a personal injury accident by driving under the influence of drugs.
Sarah Elizabeth Davidson, for whom an arrest warrant had been issued on July 1, allegedly said “she smoked methamphetamine and marijuana the night before the collision but had not smoked or used any illegal substances the day of the collision,” according to an affidavit by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper James Stacy, a member of the Traffic Homicide Unit.
Although the fatal crash on Highway 33 just west of Fairgrounds Road occurred seven months ago, the two-count felony charge on which Davidson was expected to be arraigned this week was not filed until June 29 in Payne County District Court.
If convicted of first-degree manslaughter in the 9-year-old boy’s death by driving under the influence of methamphetamine or in the alternative by driving after her license had been suspended for almost three years, Davidson could be incarcerated for four years to life. If convicted of causing serious injuries to the 11-year-old boy by driving under the influence of drugs, Davidson could be incarcerated for four to 20 years.
After a search warrant was obtained for Davidson’s blood, “The analysis indicated the presence of amphetamine and methamphetamine,” the affidavit alleged. “At the conclusion of the investigation, Davidson was determined to be operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway with methamphetamine in her system while transporting multiple unrestrained juveniles. Davidson had a suspended driver’s license and was aware that her driving privileges were suspended,” the affidavit alleged.
Davidson was driving a 2015 silver Honda Pilot eastbound on Highway 33 approaching Fairgrounds Road while accompanied by four children — her 9-year-old and 11-year-old stepsons as well as her 2-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son, the affidavit said.
“Davidson lost control of her vehicle and departed the road to the right before swerving left and over-correcting. The Honda then went into a broad slide as it crossed the center line of SH 33. The Honda was then struck by a red Chevrolet Silverado operated by Leslie Wilkerson, who was traveling westbound on SH 33,” accompanied by her 11-year-old daughter, the affidavit alleged.
“The collision caused the Honda to rotate clockwise coming to rest in the grass north of SH 33,” the affidavit alleged. Davidson’s stepsons were both ejected as the vehicle violently rotated, the affidavit alleged. Her 9-year-old stepson died due to his injuries, and her 11-year-old stepson received a broken clavicle, broken scapula and a fractured rib, the affidavit alleged.
Davidson’s 5-year-old son had two broken femurs and a minor brain injury; her 2-year-old daughter received a possible concussion and other minor injuries, the affidavit alleged. The 11-year-old girl in the Silverado had a severely bruised and injured face but no broken bones, the affidavit alleged. “Neither Leslie Wilkerson nor Sarah Davidson was seriously injured,” the affidavit said.
“Davidson initially stated that she did not know why she swerved off the roadway but later stated she observed a vehicle stopping in front of her, so she hit her brakes. Davidson stated she hit her brakes too hard, and she lost control of her vehicle and began to depart the roadway to the right. Davidson attempted to swerve left to regain control of the vehicle at which time she crossed the center line of SH 33 and was struck by Wilkerson,” the affidavit alleged.
Davidson said that neither of her stepsons was restrained by seatbelts or child restraints at the time of the collision, the affidavit alleged. Her 5-year-old son was not restrained until shortly before the collision when her 11-year-old stepson took it upon himself to secure him in a child restraint, the affidavit alleged.
The criminal charges against Davidson listed 27 prosecution witnesses including five OHP troopers, the Perkins fire chief, the Perkins police chief, an Iowa tribal police officer, and multiple firefighters from Perkins, Cushing and Guthrie.
