Truck Driver Pleads Guilty to 10 Misdemeanor Counts for Deadly Turnpike Crash

News9.com

MIAMI, Oklahoma – Donald L. Creed, the driver of a tractor-trailer that slammed into a line of stopped cars on a turnpike in northeastern Oklahoma, killing 10 people, reached a plea agreement Monday.

The 77-year-old pleaded guilty to 10 misdemeanor counts of negligent homicide and was given the maximum one year of probation for each count for a total of 10 years probation. Creed must first serve 30 days in the Ottawa County Jail. He will also be subjected to an electronic home monitoring system with GPS tracking during his first year of probation.

Creed will be prohibited from possessing a commercial driver's license.

The plea agreement was reached with the Delaware and Ottawa County D.A.'s Office.

"Even though the families of the victims have decided to leave the sentencing up to the court, they understand the plea agreement which has been reached. This collision was a terrible tragedy and destroyed the lives of many good people. I hope that the resolution of Mr. Creed's criminal matter will somehow begin the healing process for all the friends and family members of the victims which are left behind to deal with the consequences of Mr. Creed's actions," said Delaware and Ottawa County D.A. Eddie Wyant in a statement.

The collision occurred on June 26, 2009 on I-44 near Miami. The crash killed Shelby Hayes, 35, of Frisco, Texas; her husband, Randall Hayes, 38; their son, Ethan Hayes, 7; and Shelby Hayes' mother, Cynthia Olson, 55, of Crossroads, Texas.

Other victims were Oral Hooks, 69, Earlene Hooks, 63, Antonio Hooks, 42, and Dione Hooks, 41, all of Oklahoma City; and Ricardo Reyes, 39, and Ernestia Reyes, both of Phoenix. The Reyes' 12-year-old daughter, Andrea, was injured in the crash.

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