Man runs over Ardmore 19-month-old

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

ARDMORE, Okla. -- Last Friday afternoon, Dale and Darla Owen were holding a swimming party and cookout for their children and four foster children at their home east of Ardmore.

One adult had to leave to pick up his wife. As he was backing up in his pickup, he reportedly backed over a 19-month-old foster boy, Raymond Palmee.

Reports say the boy was taken to a hospital in Ardmore, and then flown to Oklahoma City. He died Saturday night. The man reported to be driving the pickup was Heath Claburn, the former wrestling coach at Ardmore High School. He is said to be devastated over what happened. Many in Ardmore are shocked.

"It's a tragedy," Ardmore resident Willie Holmes said. "It's just an awful thing to just happen like that. I really don't know what to say its just shocking that things like that could happen to a child.

"It's just a sad situation, I really don't know what to say," Ardmore resident Paula Boyd said. "I think there could have been a better eye kept on the child possibly. I feel sorry for the family."

Authorities say Claburn has cooperated with the investigation. He gave a blood sample so investigators can determine if alcohol was involved.

This case is now in the hands of Carter County District Attorney Craig Ladd. He'll be studying the investigative reports this week. But he won't make any decision on what, if any, charges should be filed--until the results of the blood test come back.