UPDATE: Driver of Fatal Accident Charged

The Penny News 5

The alleged driver of the semi that struck and killed a Granite man earlier this month has been formally charged in Beckham County District Court.

Court records show that 53-year-old Jesus Herrera of Hialeah, Florida, was formally charged on September 17 with one count of first-degree manslaughter and one count of transporting an open container of an alcoholic beverage.

Documents indicate that the late-night crash on September 12 resulted in the death of 54-year-old Christopher L. Rains of Granite after a collision between the semi and the car driven by Rains just south of Elk City.

Troopers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol report that the accident occurred around 11:01 p.m. at the intersection of OK-6 and OK-152, approximately seven miles south of Elk City in Beckham County.

Authorities state that the 2016 Volvo semi-truck, driven by Herrera, failed to stop at a stop sign while traveling westbound on OK-152. The truck collided with the 2000 Ford Crown Victoria driven by Rains, who was heading southbound on OK-6. The semi struck the car on the driver’s side.

Emergency responders from the Elk City Fire Department arrived shortly after the collision but were unable to save Rains, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Herrera was unharmed.

Authorities on the scene reported smelling alcohol on Herrera. Following the investigation, alcohol and failure to stop were determined to be major factors in the crash.

  Beckham County   Crime   News  
 
 

More News

News
The Penny News 1857
News | November 11, 2026
The City of Cordell continues working with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) following the detection of E. coli bacteria in the city's drinking water system.
Sports
The Penny News 1856
Sports | November 11, 2026
High School Hoops, Blakely Ball Commits to OSU, CFP Rankings, & Thunder in Portland
Podcasts
The Penny News 1855
Podcasts | November 11, 2026
November 11, 2026 - General Larry Haub and Master Sargent Donnie Walker talk with Jimmy Clark about Desert Storm.
News
The Penny News 1852
News | November 11, 2026
A Weatherford man faces six criminal charges after allegedly firing a handgun into an occupied mobile home while intoxicated, putting two children at risk.
Podcasts
The Penny News 1854
Podcasts | November 11, 2026
The Exploring Energy Radio Show with Shawn Wilson airs every weekday at 8:00 AM on KECO 96.5 FM. Recorded November 11, 2026.
Podcasts
The Penny News 1853
Podcasts | November 11, 2026
The Early Morning Show with Nathan and Landry Brewer airs every weekday at 7:00 AM on KECO 96.5 FM. Recorded November 11, 2026.

 
PN51444
PN51384
KECO 96.5 FM's Santa's Christmas Heroes
KECO SANTAS HEROES

 

 

© Copyright 2024, Paragon Communications. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.