Texas man dies in collision after fleeing Canadian County deputies

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports a 20-year-old Texas man died in a collision with a tractor trailer Wednesday near Geary, OK, after he fled from pursuing Canadian County Sheriff Deputies.

The collision occurred about 9:15 p.m. Wednesday on Interstate 40 eastbound, a mile south of Geary in Canadian County.

Joseph Criscione, 20, of El Paso, Texas, was driving a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The Patrol said he was involved in a previous collision and was fleeing from deputies, who performed a tactical vehicle intervention in an attempt to stop him.

Criscione’s vehicle departed the roadway to the left after the intervention and continued southbound through the center median, up a slight embankment, over a hill and down another slight embankment, entering the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40, facing southbound.

A 2016 Volvo Tractor Trailer, driven by Dezius Richardo, 35, of Delray Beach, Fla. was eastbound on I-40 when Criscione’s vehicle entered the eastbound lanes and struck the car.

Criscione’s car became lodged under the truck and remained lodged as both vehicles departed the roadway to the right, the Patrol reported.  After 527.4 feet, the two vehicles re-entered the interstate, traveled 63.3 feet and then departed the roadway to the left, striking the guardrail and multiple trees, catching fire and coming to rest in the center median.

Criscione was extricated by the Geary Fire Department after approximately five hours, the Patrol reported.

Richardo, the driver of the tractor-truck, was not injured, the Patrol stated.

The Patrol’s investigation into the condition of the drivers and the cause of the collision is ongoing.