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Car slams into deer and runs off road, killing two, Oklahoma officials say

A car in Pittsburg County hit a deer and ran off the road, killing both occupants, highway troopers said. Family mourned the couple’s death.
A car in Pittsburg County hit a deer and ran off the road, killing both occupants, highway troopers said. Family mourned the couple’s death. Screengrabs from Christopher Pierson's and Darci Pierson's Facebook accounts

Two people died after hitting a deer on an Oklahoma highway, authorities said, and the couple’s family added and friends are mourning.

Christopher Pierson, 33, was driving along Indian Nation Turnpike in Pittsburg County with Darci Pierson, 28, just before 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said in a news release to McClatchy News on Monday, Nov. 14.

The vehicle slammed into a deer and ran off the road, hitting a tree and partially rolling into a creek, troopers said. The passenger was ejected in the crash, and the driver was pinned for 45 minutes, the release said.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers arrived at the scene and found both occupants dead. Troopers said neither occupant was wearing a seat belt.

Family and friends mourned the loss of the couple.

“Words don’t even describe how the pain feels,” Emmet Beals wrote on Facebook. “(I) just don’t know what to say. I’m in shock … they were still young and full of life.”

Darci Pierson’s cousin, Becky Tripp, wrote on Facebook that, “You (Darci) were not only my cousin but you were my best and only friend that I told everything to … You two were great people and good friends. All the memories we have will never be forgotten!”

The Piersons left behind four children, according to a GoFundMe for the family.

Christopher Pierson and Darci Pierson were from Norman, Oklahoma, troopers said.

Pittsburg County is about 125 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.

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This story was originally published November 14, 2022 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Car slams into deer and runs off road, killing two, Oklahoma officials say."

Aspen Pflughoeft
McClatchy DC
Aspen Pflughoeft covers real-time news for McClatchy. She is a graduate of Minerva University where she studied communications, history, and international politics. Previously, she reported for Deseret News.
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