Zac Rinehart Obituary, Death; – The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) reported that one worker from the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) has died, and another is in critical condition after being struck by a semi-truck while collecting trash on the roadside in Ottawa County.

According to OHP, at approximately 1:30 p.m., a semi-truck was traveling eastbound on I-44 near Miami, where two OTA workers were engaged in trash collection on the roadside. One of the workers was on foot, while the other was inside a truck.

OHP stated that the semi-truck driver veered off the roadway and struck the OTA worker who was on foot before continuing on to collide with the truck.

The OTA worker on foot was killed, and the worker inside the truck was transported to the hospital in critical condition. The driver of the semi-truck did not sustain any injuries.

The OTA has identified the deceased worker as Zac Rinehart, Heavy Equipment Operator II, noting that he was tragically killed in a work zone accident. Rinehart had been with the OTA as part of the Will Rogers Turnpike maintenance crew for the past two years, according to the OTA.

“This loss is deeply felt by all of his co-workers across the state, and the OTA extends its heartfelt condolences to the Rinehart family,” the OTA stated. “We urge Oklahomans to keep Rinehart, his family, and his injured co-worker in their thoughts and prayers during this challenging time.”

OHP indicated that the eastbound lanes of I-44 near Miami have reopened after being closed for nearly three hours.