Driver Arrested for DUI 3 Days Before Causing Fatal Crash

News9.com

PONCA CITY, Oklahoma -- A veteran of the Ponca City Fire Department was killed in a crash Sunday afternoon.

Gary Robert Williams was riding his motorcycle northbound on Kygar Road and while turning onto East Hartford Avenue, the 60-year-old was struck head-on by a pick-up truck.

When paramedics arrived at the scene, Williams and the motorcycle were still under the truck. Williams sustained massive injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the truck, 52-year-old Lloyd Dee Stites, was arrested for driving under the influence. Stites was arrested just three days prior to the wreck for a DUI in Ponca City and was out on bond when the fatality accident occurred.

"It does frustrate you that it's almost like he got his first warning and ignored it. It happened again and it cost somebody their life," Ponca City Fire Marshal David VanBuskirk said.

Stites was held until Tuesday at the Ponca City jail. He was transported to Newkirk where he made his initial appearance in district court for the crash that killed Williams. Stites is being held on a $1 million bond.

Williams was a 31-year veteran of the Ponca City Fire Department, and reached the rank of Assistant Chief. He retired in 2001.

Services will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Ponca City.