Shawn David Gates, 36, was charged with a misdemeanor count of furnishing alcoholic beverage to two minors, Jennifer Riggs and Thomas Kidd, both of Muldrow.
Kyle Waters, Sequoyah County assistant district attorney, said Thursday that Gates was already serving a 20-year suspended sentence in a drug case. As a result of the latest information, prosecutors have filed an application to revoke his suspended sentence.
Waters said Gates may soon face more charges after Gates was accused of threatening one of the girls to whom he allegedly provided alcohol.
The crash occurred at about 7:30 a.m. Dec. 13 on U.S. Highway 64 east of Muldrow. Alyssa McPeak, 18, of Muldrow was traveling west in a 2006 black Jeep Liberty when she reportedly crossed the center lane, went across the turn lane and struck head on a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero driven by Glenda Karther of Muldrow.
McPeak and Karther, along with Karther's 31-year-old son, Karl Karther, were pinned in their vehicles before being freed by the Muldrow Fire Department Rescue division.
Karther, 48, later died in Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa from multiple injuries. Kidd and Riggs, passengers in McPeak's vehicle, were also injured. Riggs was treated for minor cuts and abrasions and released at the scene, while Kidd reportedly received a spinal injury in the crash.
The police investigation revealed that McPeak's vehicle crossed left of center. Police suspect McPeak was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Police found different alcoholic beverages in the vehicle, and McPeak had an odor of alcohol on her, Muldrow Police Chief Tony Lewis said. Witnesses told police that they observed McPeak's vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed before the accident, he said.
According to the charge against Gates, a police investigation led to statements made by the teens that they originally received the alcohol from Gates.
On or about Dec. 8, the teens reported that Gates drove them to a liquor store in Fort Smith, Ark., and purchased the alcohol. The three reported that they left Gates' home with the alcohol and started drinking it later that night. This same alcohol was allegedly used by the three teens on the night of Dec. 13 and was present in the car with the teens when the collision occurred, police reported.
McPeak was arrested at the scene and was taken to Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith, Ark., where she was treated for minor injuries and released. McPeak was later booked into the Muldrow City Jail for driving under the influence and being a minor in possession of alcohol.
Because of Karther's death, McPeak could face a first-degree manslaughter charge. Waters said that prosecutors are waiting on results from a blood test before filing charges against McPeak.
