1 Dead In Accident Involving Bus Along I-35 Near Goldsby

One man was killed overnight Wednesday when he lost control of his truck and struck a passenger bus on I-35, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. 

Ace Hawkins, 25, of Newcastle, was pronounced dead at the scene with injuries to his head, arms and legs, according to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office.

Hawkins was driving northbound on I-35 at a high rate of speed about 1 a.m. when he lost control of his white 2003 GMC Sierra pickup about four miles south of Goldsby, troopers said. According to an OHP report, Hawkins pickup struck a white 2000 Coach bus with 16 passengers. 

Hawkins' truck then left the roadway and came to a stop at the cable barrier where it caught fire, authorities said. A McClain County deputy was able to pull Hawkins from the burning truck, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the OHP.  

The driver of the Coach bus as well as the 16 passengers, who ranged in age from 19 to 81, were not injured in the crash, troopers said. 

Crews initially shut down lanes in both direction of the highway between Goldsby and Purcell around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. Both lanes were re-opened around 4:30 a.m. 

The cause of the accident was excessive speed, according to the report, but the investigation is ongoing. 

Stay with News9.com or your News 9 app for more information as it becomes available.