Child Injured In Midwest City Accident Declared Brain Dead

News9.com

MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma – One person has been pronounced brain dead following a rear-end collision late Thursday evening.

Midwest City police reported that Vincent Marino was eastbound on S.E. 15th St. and had slowed to make a right turn onto Dorchester. His car was struck from behind by an eastbound pickup driven by Anthony Clifton, 18, of Midwest City.

Twenty-three-month old Kaylee Hilton, who was secured in a child safety seat behind Marino, was injured, as were Marino and his front seat passenger, Ashley Hilton.

Clifton told investigators that he was distracted by a water feature in the area and didn't see that Marino had slowed to make a turn.

Investigators determined Clifton's vehicle was traveling slightly faster than the speed limit at the time of the accident.

The accident totaled Marino's vehicle and after the collision, Ashley Hilton removed her daughter from the wreckage and noticed she was unresponsive. Kaylee was airlifted by EagleMed to OU Medical Center and was found to have suffered massive injuries.

On Friday around 2:45 p.m., she was pronounced legally brain dead but kept on life support through Saturday as a possible organ donor candidate.

"This tragedy underlines the utmost importance of devoting all your senses and motor skills while driving," Chief Brandon Clabes said. "It does not appear drugs or alcohol came into play with this fatality accident, only inattention for just a fleeting second—and as result many lives have been traumatically changed forever."

The Midwest City Police Department will turn its report over to the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office for a determination if criminal charges should be filed. Possible charges could include negligent homicide.