Driver Killed After Truck Hits Bridge, Catches Fire In OKC

  Investigators are trying to piece together what led up to a fiery and fatal truck accident that ended in a hotel parking lot. <br/>

Thursday, July 31st 2014, 6:07 am

By: News 9

Driver Killed After Truck Hits Bridge, Catches Fire In OKC

Investigators are trying to piece together what led up to a fiery and fatal truck accident that ended in an Oklahoma City hotel parking lot.

According to Oklahoma City police, the victim was driving a pickup truck northbound on the Lake Hefner Parkway around 2 a.m. and struck part of the bridge near Memorial Road and the Kilpatrick Turnpike.

Following the impact, the truck left the highway and came to a stop in the parking lot of the Country Inn and Suites hotel.

After the truck came to a stop, it caught fire, according to investigators. Witnesses said people from inside the hotel rushed out and attempted to extinguish the fire, but the flames were too intense.

The driver of the truck, later identified as 72-year-old Walter Garner of Wichita, Kansas, died at the scene. There were reports to police prior to the accident that the driver was driving recklessly on the Lake Hefner Parkway just before the crash.

According to a family member, Garner was having an allergic reaction and was trying to rush to Mercy Hospital. However, his tongue swelled up, and that's when he lost control of the truck.