By JOHN M. WYLIE II, Editor
Dennis Byrd, 50, of Talala, was killed and two others were seriously injured Saturday morning in a head-on crash on Oklahoma 88 north of Claremore.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Byrd, the former New York Jets football star, was killed and a 12-year-old Talala boy was injured when their southbound Hummer SUV vehicle was struck head-on by a northbound Ford Explorer.
The patrol said it was unknown why the Explorer crossed the center line, and declined to identify the 17-year-old Claremore male who was driving it.
The crash occurred about 11 a.m., and the roadway was closed for two miles starting at Lowry Road for 5 hours and 52 minutes—from 11:16 a.m. until 5:08 p.m.—for extrication by Northwest and Claremore firefighters, medical treatment, investigation, and clearing debris.
Both survivors were treated on scene at Oklahoma 88 and Road E 450 by OTEMS medics and transported in critical condition to St. Francis Hospital, the ambulance service said, where they were stabilized.
The patrol said the driver of the Explorer and the passenger in the Hummer both suffered head, trunk internal, trunk external, arm and leg injuries.
A formal updated condition was not available from the hospital Saturday evening.
All involved in the crash were wearing seatbelts, the Patrol said, and the condition of both drivers immediately prior to the crash and the cause remained under investigation when the patrol report was issued Saturday evening.
Dennis Byrd, an Oklahoma City native, played high school football at Mustang High School, college ball at TU, and was with the New York Jets from 1989 until Nov. 29, 1992 when he broke a neck vertebra in a play during a game with the Kansas City Chiefs.
While originally paralyzed from the waist down and told he might never walk again, he took is first steps three months later and walked on his own onto the field for the Jets first NFL game of the 1993 season.
He wrote a book, made speeches nationwide, and was the subject of an inspirational made-for-TV movie, but returned to Oklahoma, coached at Owasso High School, and remained involved in working with players before moving to a quiet life in Talala.
The Jets never re-issued his #90 and formally retired it Oct. 28, 2012.
The crash was investigated by three members of the OHP Troop B Homicide Unit led by Trooper David Kelley and including Troopers Bobby Raines and Matthew Ledbetter. Troopers Brad Debell and Russell Cisne of the Troop B Rogers County Detachment and Aaron Riggs of the Tulsa County Detachment also assisted.
The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office and Claremore Police Department also assisted in work on the scene and with logistics and traffic control.