Yukon Student Killed At Dangerous Intersection

On Friday, Yukon High School lost its second student in a car accident in the past year.

Both accidents occurred at the same intersection of W Britton and Piedmont roads — otherwise known as Highway 4.  

Friday morning, two Yukon High School students were driving to band practice at the school, and they were heading west on Britton Road. 

Oklahoma City police told News 9 the driver of their vehicle stopped briefly at a stop sign, before making a left turn onto Piedmont Road. 

Police said a tractor-trailer was coming from the other direction on Piedmont Road. The driver of the semi tried to avoid impact, by slamming on his brakes and steering away, but it happened too quickly, police said. 

The impact crushed the driver side door of the students’ car. The driver of the car died at a local hospital.   

An Oklahoma City Fire Department spokesman said the passenger suffered a broken collarbone. 

The driver of the semi will not be charged, police said.   

Yukon Superintendent Jason Simeroth said a Yukon High School basketball player was killed in an accident at that same intersection last year.

“It’s a blind hill and a blind intersection, and we’d had probably over the last decade, there have been promises after promises made by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and I don’t know what the City of Oklahoma City has promised, but nothing has changed,” he said. 

An ODOT spokesperson told News 9 improvements have been made to that intersection in recent years. 

There are stop signs, and there is a flashing light, but Simeroth said both Britton and Piedmont roads need to be widened around that intersection. 

Ironically, a week ago, Brandi Reynolds, who lives nearby, started a petition campaign to thwart a proposed housing development next to where Friday’s accident occurred.

“Just the total infrastructure is not there to support what’s currently there, as well as definitely not 1,200 homes in this horribly dangerous area,” she said Saturday afternoon.

ODOT released a statement Saturday afternoon. 

"This is a terrible tragedy and we're saddened by the loss of a student at such a young age.

"Safety is the No. 1 priority for ODOT and several improvements have been made to this intersection over the years, including flashing warning lights, warning signs and a reduced speed limit of 45 mph, in addition to other features.

"ODOT has been working in partnership with the City of Oklahoma City to widen SH-4 in this area, with the city purchasing the right-of-way and relocating the utilities. This project is now possible due to the inclusion of this in the city's recent bond package. This work is in ODOT's Eight-year Construction Work Plan and the agency is hopeful that it will continue as scheduled due to the growth and development in this area.

"With school starting back, ODOT asks drivers to be mindful of highway warning signs and devices in the area."