Teen Passenger Killed After Driver Falls Asleep, Crashes Pickup In Caddo County

A teenager crashed his pickup truck in Caddo County after falling asleep behind the wheel Friday night. Troopers say a 17-year-old passenger in his truck was killed following the crash.

It happened just before 9 p.m. Friday, on U.S. Highway 281, about half mile north of County Road 1220 in Caddo County.

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 17-year-old Colby Ruthardt of Minco, Oklahoma, was driving a 2006 Ford pickup on U.S. 281, when he fell asleep behind the wheel. The truck then ran off the roadway to the left, striking a barbed wire fence. Troopers say it overturned, coming to rest upside down on the roadside.

A passenger in Ruthardt's truck, 17-year-old Sabrina Birch of Gracemont, Oklahoma, was thrown out of the vehicle during the accident. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision, according to the OHP.

Birch was transported to the OU Medical Center with head, trunk internal and external, arm, and leg injuries. She died at the hospital early Saturday morning.

Ruthardt was not injured. Troopers say he was wearing a seat belt during the crash.

Troopers have listed Ruthardt's condition at the time of the collision as "sleepy."