Two Runners Killed, Four Injured In Hit-And-Run


Two students from Moore High School in Oklahoma were killed and four others were injured after being plowed into by a driver while the group was out on a cross-country training run on Monday afternoon.

Police officials confirmed at a news conference that Rachel Freeman and Yuridia Martinez succumbed to injuries suffered in the collision. Kolby Crum is in critical condition at OU Medical Center. Joseph White and Shiloh Hutchinson are reported to be in fair condition while a sixth victim, Ashton Baza, has been discharged from the hospital.

According to news reports, Max Townsend, 57, was picked up just three blocks away from where he drove onto the sidewalk and struck the student athletes with his red pickup truck near the high school. Townsend has been charged with first-degree manslaughter and six counts of leaving the scene of an accident.

Townsend's son was killed in a car crash the day prior. According to police, he has a history of arrests for drunken driving, child abuse, and drug possession. 

 "There were signs of impairment due to the standard field sobriety test that we gave him, and that was part of the investigation yesterday and why he was arrested," police Chief Todd Strickland told local media.

Freeman was a standout runner for Moore, finishing fourth in the 3200m (12:36.80) and eighth in the 1600m (5:53.03) at the Class 5A-6A Regional last spring. According to NBC News she was set to announce her college commitment this week.

 Our condolences go out to the Moore High community.