Sequoyah County deputy hit while directing interstate traffic

A Sequoyah County deputy was seriously injured after being struck by a car while directing traffic on Interstate 40 overnight.

A fatal collision occurred on Sept. 26, 2024, at 9:40 p.m. on I-40 westbound near mile marker 294, about three miles west of Vian in Sequoyah County, according to a report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP).

A vehicle driven by Robert Jaramillo, 38, was involved in the crash. Jaramillo sustained several injuries and died at the scene after being pinned in the vehicle for about an hour. No passengers were in his vehicle.

The second vehicle had an unidentified driver who was critically injured and airlifted to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. This driver was also pinned in their vehicle for about an hour.

Both drivers were wearing seatbelts, and airbags deployed in both cars. The cause of the collision and the condition of the second driver are still under investigation.

Shortly after the crash, Sequoyah County Deputy Duwaine Chase was seriously injured while directing traffic near the Vian exit. Chase was assisting the OHP and first responders when a vehicle struck him.

Deputy Chase was working a traffic block about half a mile back from the primary accident scene, according to Gore Fire Department Justin Ohl. During this time, a fire truck from Sequoyah County Rural Fire Protection District 1 was also on the scene.

According to Ohl, as Deputy Chase attempted to divert traffic off the interstate, he was hit by the driver of a big rig, while another vehicle struck the fire truck.

Gore Fire Department diverted one of their ambulance crews to the secondary crash to assist Deputy Chase, who was subsequently life-flighted to Little Rock. His current condition is unknown.

The OHP continues to investigate both the fatal accident and the incident involving Deputy Chase.

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