Oklahoma State Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman charged with First Degree Manslaughter
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Outgoing Oklahoma State Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman was charged with First Degree Manslaughter Monday relating to a vehicular accident earlier this year. Ikley-Freeman represents Senate District 37, which includes Sand Springs, Jenks, and portions of Tulsa.
The accident for which she has been charged occurred Friday, May 22nd at 7:32 a.m. on the Turner Turnpike, when she was on her way to the State Capitol. Another vehicle, occupied by 44-year-old Enrique Lopez, had reportedly hydroplaned while traveling westbound and was stuck in the grass on the right-hand side of the road. Approximately eight minutes later, Ikley-Freeman also left the roadway and struck Lopez’s Camaro on the driver’s side. Ikley-Freeman was pinned inside her own wreckage for more than half an hour.
Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene, while Ikley-Freeman was transported to the University of Oklahoma Medical Center for treatment. She underwent surgery immediately following the crash after suffering a ruptured spleen, broken ribs, and fractures to her vertebrae and pelvis. Her recovery has gone well, and she has since appeared in an official capacity at Sand Springs events.
One witness called 911 to report Mr. Lopez’s initial accident, and stated that he was having difficulty keeping his vehicle on the road while traveling only 55 MPH due to the heavy rains and moderate wind gusts. Two other drivers called to report the second accident, and both were reportedly driving under the 75 MPH speed limit due to weather conditions.
Senator Ikley-Freeman was interviewed at the OU Medical Center by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Joe Kimmons. She told Kimmons that her cruise control was set to 75 MPH, but crash data obtained from the Event Data Recorder in her vehicle indicated she was actually driving 91 MPH just five seconds prior to the collision.
Court documents state that “Allison Ikley-Freeman was operating her vehicle in complete disregard to the motoring public and was in the process of committing several misdemeanor crimes, those being: 1. Speeding, 2. Reckless driving, 3. Operating a vehicle at a speed greater than reasonable and proper for the weather conditions and 4. Fail to stay in a single lane of travel, when the collision resulting in the death of Enrique Loepz occurred.”
Ikley-Freeman’s traffic record has been spotless for the past decade, though she was cited for driving 26-30 MPH over the limit in 2009.
Bond was set for $30,000 and Ikley-Freeman’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, January 7th. If convicted, she faces no less than four years imprisonment.
Ikley-Freeman, 29, lost her re-election campaign last Tuesday to Republican candidate Cody Rogers. She was previously elected as a Democrat in a 2017 special election to fill an unexpired term. Rogers won last week’s two-way election with 67.1% of the vote and will be sworn into office on Tuesday.
