Four Panama High School seniors hospitalized after Poteau crash

POTEAU, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) — Four Panama High School seniors were hospitalized Sept. 18 after a two-car crash in Poteau.

A press release says around 3:51 p.m., Poteau police and LeFlore County EMS were sent to the Cavanal Scenic Expressway at Franzini Drive in Poteau on a call of a crash with injuries involved.

The preliminary investigation shows that a 2001 four-door Buick was stopped at a stop sign facing west on Frazini Drive at Cavanal Scenic Expressway. A 2003 four-door Mitsubishi was driving north in the outside northbound lane of Cavanal Scenic Expressway heading toward Frazini Drive. The Buick headed west from the stop sign into the outside northbound lane of Cavanal Scenic Expressway and was struck in the driver’s side by the Mitsubishi.

The release says the driver of the Buick, a 17-year-old girl from Panama, and both passengers, a 17-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy from Panama were taken to hospitals by life flight in critical condition. Two were taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa. One was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, a 17-year-old boy from Shady Point, was driven by a private vehicle to Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center in Poteau.

Poteau police and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are still investigating the crash.

Panama Public Schools released a statement on Facebook regarding the crash. The post says counselors are available at both secondary and elementary sites.

“We ask for prayers for these students, their families, our staff, our student body, and our community at this time,” the post said.

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