Two were killed in a three-vehicle crash outside of Stratford on Tuesday afternoon during the windy conditions.
At 3:40 p.m., a 2019 Freightliner truck-tractor, driven by Viorel Longu, 26, Prospect Heights, Ill., towing a semi-trailer was traveling northeast on United States Highway 54.
A 2014 Freightliner truck tractor, driven by Stephen Lott, Jr., 40, Lincoln, Neb. was going southwest on U.S. 54 in the left passing lane, passing a 2020 International truck tractor, driven by Alexis Martinez (male), 26, Amarillo, with a passenger, Skylar Nelson, 20, of Amarillo.
The 2020 truck was traveling in the right lane going southwest. The windy conditions created blowing direct and all three vehicles traveled in the area with little to no visibility.
Longu was unable to see the markings on the roadway, became disoriented and locked up his brakes, crossed over the center stripe and struck the 2014 truck head-on. Both vehicles caught fire on impact.
The driver of the 2020 was unable to avoid the collision struck the trailer of 2014 vehicle.
The 2019 and 2014 trucks and towed semi-trailers became fully engulfed in flames and were completely destroyed. The driver and passenger of the 2020 were able to get out of the truck tractor before it became fully engulfed in flames. The 2020’s semi-trailer did not catch fire.
Lungu and Lott were both pronounced dead at the scene by Sherman County Justice of the Peace Brenda Acker. Martinez and Nelson were treated and released at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation. Information may change, be corrected, or added based on the investigators findings.
