The Daniel Webster High School student killed in Monday’s Turner Turnpike crash was 16-year-old Aleena King, KTUL reported.
King was one of two students ejected when a Tulsa Public Schools Chevrolet Suburban overturned on Interstate 44 on Monday, Nov. 9, according to KTUL. She died from her injuries. The second ejected student is recovering and in stable condition, OHP said.
As we reported Nov. 10, the crash killed one student and injured others returning from a student council convention in Norman.
Seven student council members and one teacher were riding in the Suburban when a semi-truck merging from the Chandler travel plaza collided with the school vehicle, OHP said. The collision caused the Suburban to overturn, according to KJRH.
King had been seated in the front-passenger seat, KJRH reported. The other ejected student had been seated directly behind her.
OHP Lt. Mark Southall said preliminary findings indicate all occupants in both vehicles were wearing seatbelts. The damage to the Suburban caused the seatbelts to become compromised, leading to the two ejections, Southall said.
"The damage to the vehicle caused those vehicle seatbelts to become compromised, ultimately leading to the ejection of those two students," Southall told KJRH.
Five other students were treated and released from the hospital the night of the crash. The teacher driving the Suburban had no significant injuries, according to OHP.
According to KJRH, the man behind the wheel of the semi-truck was not injured. He holds a valid commercial driver's license and lives in Barstow, California, OHP said. No charges had been filed as of KJRH’s report.
OHP asked the public to "refrain from speculating about the collision and the circumstances leading up to it." The agency said there is no estimated timeline for completing the investigation.
Tulsa Public Schools said the group included juniors and seniors who had attended the Oklahoma Association of Student Councils' state convention in Norman, as Public Radio Tulsa reported. TPS canceled its board of education meeting the night of the crash and stationed support counselors at the west Tulsa school.
A community vigil for King is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Cognizant Church in west Tulsa, near the high school. The church said doors open at 6 p.m. and all are welcome.
