Wreck victim confirmed to be missing Sallisaw man

A Sallisaw man reported as missing by family members on Jan. 20 has now been identified as the victim who died in a collision on Interstate-40 near Muldrow.

According to an updated fatality report issued by the Department of Public Safety, the victim has been identified as David Mobley.

Mobley, 75, was reportedly last seen leaving the Fort Smith VA Center at 4:36 p.m. on Jan. 20 in a 2011 Dodge R1500 pickup.

That same afternoon, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Joa’n Alverez of the Sequoyah County Detachment of Troop C, reported an unknown make and model truck was traveling westbound on I-40 when it rear-ended a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, traveling in the same direction.

Alverez said the truck departed the roadway to the left, struck the cable barrier and traveled down the cable barrier approximately 120 yards before coming to a rest. The trooper said the truck then ignited and burned completely.

The driver was pinned for about two hours and 11 minutes and pronounced deceased from massive injuries sustained in the collision.

A Silver Alert for Mobley was issued the same day by Oklahoma Highway Patrol on behalf of the Sallisaw Police Department. Mobley reportedly suffered from a brain injury and had been diagnosed with dementia, diabetes, depression and anxiety.

There was some reported speculation that Mobley could be the victim of the collision, but because the truck was burned so badly that a VIN number could not be obtained, authorities had to check all leads.

Sallisaw Police Chief Terry Franklin said Tuesday that authorities were checking all tips they received regarding Mobley’s whereabouts.

“Mobley was classified as a missing person and we checked every lead we received,” Franklin said. “He was also spotted in another state so we had to rule out every call.”

Franklin said he was thankful Mobley’s family was finally able to get some answers after the Medical Examiner confirmed Mobley’s identification late Tuesday afternoon.