A Fort Smith, Ark., man was killed when the vehicle he was a passenger in was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer, driven by Roumen Tzatzarov of Philadelphia, Penn., and knocked off the road, according to Muldrow Police.
Tzatzarov, 45, was not injured in the accident. The preliminary results of the accident investigation indicate that the primary cause of the accident was that Tzatzarov was following too close, Muldrow Police Chief Tony Lewis said Tuesday.
As a result, Tzatzarov was arrested and booked into the Muldrow City Jail on the misdemeanor charge. He is currently out of jail on bond.
Gray said Tzatzarov could face up to one year in a county jail or up to a $5,000 fine if he is convicted.
Lewis said Tzatzarov was following a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer in the right westbound lane of Interstate 40 when the Blazer slowed and the 2002 Kenworth tractor-trailer plowed into the back of the Blazer.
The Blazer, driven by Betty Spruell, 64, of Fort Smith, Ark., was knocked off the roadway and into the right-of-way. Then Blazer then overturned and crashed into a tree, Lewis said.
Spruell sustained injuries to her legs. She was recovering at a Fort Smith, Ark., hospital after undergoing surgery. Spruell's husband, Raymond Spruell, 67, died of massive head injuries at the scene. Lewis reported that the Spruells and Tzatzarov were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident.
Muldrow Police took samples of Tzatzarov's blood, but they won't know the test results for a few weeks. Lewis noted that there were no outward signs of alcohol use.
Muldrow Police was assisted by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP). Lewis said the investigation is in the early stages, and not all information will be available until the OHP does their diagram of the accident.
