Milton K. Abbott, 48, of Rockport, Texas, faces one count of first-degree manslaughter for the July 25 accident that killed a passenger in his vehicle, Todd W. Garwick. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), alcohol is believed to be the cause of the accident that occurred east of Roland.
Abbott's preliminary hearing was scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, but has been continued to 9 a.m. Sept. 1, court records indicate.
According to the OHP, Abbott was driving a 1989 Ford truck when his vehicle struck an outside lane bridge curb, he overcorrected, and struck a guard rail on the west side of the road. Abbott's vehicle then traveled about 40 feet on the guard rail before dropping about 35 feet below the bridge, overturning one half times before coming to rest on an embankment.
The OHP reported that Abbott's ability was impaired by alcohol, and the cause of the collision was listed as driving under the influence of alcohol.
Abbott, who was not wearing his seatbelt, was pinned for about two hours and 50 minutes before being freed by Roland Fire and Rescue.
Garwick, 34, was pinned for about an hour and 20 minutes before being freed by Roland Fire and Rescue. Garwick was transported to Sequoyah Memorial Hospital in Sallisaw where he was pronounced dead on arrival from multiple internal and external injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, the OHP reported.
According to the affidavit, Abbott allegedly admitted to an OHP trooper that he had been drinking and had three six-packs of beer before the accident occurred. He told the trooper that he could not remember if he had been driving the vehicle at the time of the accident, according to the OHP report.
