2 Dead, Firefighter Injured After Van Collides With Rig En Route To Grass Fire

Two people are dead and a firefighter was injured in a collision on Oklahoma 16 near the town of Shamrock.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said a vehicle collided with an Olive fire truck before 4 p.m. Sunday. The Olive Fire Department is one of the many agencies battling a grass fire that has been burning for three days in Creek County.

A grass rig, with emergency lights and sirens engaged, came upon a blue van and proceeded to pass it on the left of the two-lane highway, OHP said.

The van's driver, for unknown reasons, slammed on his brakes and turned left into the rig's path, an OHP spokesperson said.

The van's driver and passenger were killed instantly.

A firefighter was treated at the scene with minor injuries. The driver of the grass rig was transported to the local hospital after his chest slammed into the steering wheel.

The highway was closed for nearly two and a half hours.

Identities of those involved have not yet been released.

The investigation is ongoing into whether it was an alcohol-related crash, OHP said.