October 31, 2025

Truck driver distracted by phone before deadly I-44 crash

Steve Smith

Truck driver distracted by phone before deadly I-44 crash

An Oklahoma truck driver admitted to watching anime on his phone before a deadly crash that took place on August 18 on I-44 in Ottawa County.

What happened: The semi left its lane and hit a parked Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) vehicle. Zac Rinehart, an OTA worker, was outside the vehicle and was killed. Another worker inside the OTA truck was hurt, but the truck driver was not injured.

Initially, the driver, 50-year-old David Ray Carlson, told police he dropped his phone and crashed while reaching for it.
He later admitted he was playing an anime video for "background noise" to avoid zoning out, but was distracted at the time of the crash.
Dash cam and witness statements showed Carlson struggling to stay in his lane before the wreck.

The aftermath: Rinehart leaves behind two young daughters, and his wife is considering a civil case. Carlson is facing a first-degree manslaughter charge and is scheduled for arraignment on November 5, according to KJRH.

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