Update (May 8, 2025): Authorities have identified the man who was killed in this accident as 36-year-old Kevin Hays of Fletcher.
Chickasha, OK — March 12, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 2 p.m. on the off ramp from Interstate 44.
Authorities said a Peterbilt semi-truck was exiting the interstate at South 4th Street/U.S. Route 277 when it hit a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, whose name has not been made public at this time, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.
The truck driver was not injured.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Grady County crash. The accident is still being investigated.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Crashes involving pedestrians and semi-trucks raise serious concerns about visibility, right-of-way and whether all safety precautions were followed. In this case, reports indicate that a Peterbilt semi-truck exiting Interstate 44 struck and killed a pedestrian at the South 4th Street off-ramp. A full investigation should determine whether this was due to driver inattention, pedestrian movement or another contributing factor.
One of the first questions investigators should answer is why the pedestrian was in the path of the truck. Off-ramps are not designed for foot traffic, so was the pedestrian crossing the ramp unexpectedly, walking along the roadside or stranded after a vehicle breakdown? If the area lacked sidewalks or safe crossings, that could have increased the risk of a collision.
Another key factor is whether the truck driver saw the pedestrian in time to react. Semi-trucks have significant blind spots, especially on the right side and close to the front of the vehicle. Did the pedestrian enter the truck’s path suddenly, or did the driver fail to check their surroundings properly? Reviewing surveillance footage, dashcam recordings and witness statements will be critical in understanding whether this was a case of driver inattention or limited visibility.
Speed and lighting conditions should also be examined. Was the truck traveling at a safe speed for an off-ramp, allowing time to stop if needed? If lighting was poor, did that contribute to the driver not seeing the pedestrian until it was too late? Investigators should determine whether environmental factors played a role.
At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities focus only on who was hit without investigating why the pedestrian was on the off-ramp and whether the truck driver had a reasonable opportunity to avoid the collision, they risk missing key details. A thorough investigation should take all possible factors into account to ensure a complete understanding of what went wrong.
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