A woman crashes
her car into an Oklahoma homecoming parade, killing 4.
STILLWATER, Okla. — A woman suspected of driving under the influence plowed into a crowd Saturday during the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade, killing four people — including a toddler — and injuring dozens more.
Stillwater police Capt. Kyle Gibbs said the woman’s Hyundai Elantra struck an unoccupied motorcycle of an officer who was working security at the parade, then went into the crowd.
Oklahoma University Medical Center and The Children’s Hospital announced Saturday night that a 2-year-old was the fourth person to die from injuries from the morning crash.
Police said Adacia Chambers, 25, of Stillwater, was taken into custody.
“We treat these like we would any homicide investigation,” Gibbs said. “It’ll probably take several days to get additional information as to the cause of the accident.”
Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis said there had been discussion about canceling the homecoming game Saturday afternoon against Kansas, but it was played as scheduled. The victims were remembered with a moment of silence before kickoff.
Dave Kapple of Houston told the Stillwater News Press that he and his son saw the vehicle barreling into the crowd.
“We heard somebody scream, ‘Look out!’ (The driver) plowed through a police motorcycle and then a crowd of people,” Kapple said. “People were flying everywhere.”
This is not the first tragedy to strike events connected to Oklahoma State sports programs. Ten people, including two Oklahoma State men’s basketball players, were killed in a 2001 plane crash. And women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda Serna were among four killed in a plane crash in Arkansas in 2011.