OKC Man Killed After Semi-Truck Veers Off Belle Isle Bridge

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma City Man was killed early this morning when he lost control of his tractor-trailer rig and veered off the Belle Isle Bridge.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers identified the driver as Joseph Watkins, 40.

Watkins was headed westbound on Interstate 44 at about 2:30 a.m. when he swerved to avoid another wreck. He lost control and the vehicle fell off the elevated highway, according to the OHP report.

Joseph Watkins was pinned in the vehicle for 15 minutes before being freed by firefighters. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Slick road conditions may have contributed to the wreck, authorities said.

As of 7 a.m., environmental clean up crews were still on the scene, but officials said the wreck should not impact morning traffic.

The impact of the crash broke open the trailer and covered much of the grassy lot below the bridge with the rig's load of Pampers diapers.