Dateline: June 12, 2008

Winds cause two wrecks

By Ashlyn Tubbs, Clarendon Enterprise

The first wreck occurred around 1:49 p.m. when Garrett Carlton, age 33, from Wilvburton, Okla., was driving a pickup eastbound on US 287, towing a camping trailer.

DPS Trooper Chad Simpson said high winds blew Carlton’s light weight trailer to the north, and it started whipping back and forth. Carlton lost control of the vehicle, and it slid sideways into the south ditch and rolled over along with the camper trailer.

No citations were issued, and Carlton experienced no injuries.

The second wreck happened around 3:56 just over the Armstrong County line. Richard Keesee, age 54, of Bushland, was driving a truck/tractor semi trailer westbound on US 287, pulling an empty trailer.

Simpson said strong winds blew the trailer to the north, and Keesee lost control and jackknifed his vehicle. The jackknifed vehicle slid into the center median, where it came to rest.

Keesee also was not injured, and did not receive a citation.