Bartlesville Trial Underway In ODOT Worker Death

A jury was seated Monday afternoon in Washington County District Court for a Sperry man charged with the death of an Oklahoma Department of Transportation employee.

Deven Franklin is charged with first degree manslaughter in the death of Ira Henderson in November 2011. The incident occurred on U.S. Highway 75 north of Ramona. Henderson was part of an ODOT work crew when the Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a car driven by Franklin struck and killed him.

OHP troopers said they found a wooden box containing marijuana and related paraphernalia in Franklin's car and a blood test determined that enough drugs were present in his system to impair his ability to drive.

11/29/2013 Related Story: Trial Date Set For Sperry Man Charged In ODOT Worker's Death

After seating a jury, the judge recessed the jury for the day.  The state is scheduled to begin presenting its case Tuesday morning.