January 6, 2020
By News Director Jared Atha
A Friday afternoon accident in Kiowa county has claimed the life of a Hobart child.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol the accident occurred at the intersection of State Highway 9 and U.S. Highway 183 when the 2009 Toyota Tacoma driven by 50-year-old Benedicto Reyes of Hobart was eastbound on State Highway 9 and failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection. The vehicle was struck by a 2010 Dodge Ram driven by 19-year-old Caden Church of Sentinel. Three passengers, including the driver in the Reyes vehicle were taken to area hospitals, all listed to be in stable condition. However, a 4-year-old male was pronounced deceased on the scene by the state medical examiner. Church was treated and released at a local hospital with minor injuries.
The OHP report that only the front seat occupants of the Reyes vehicle were using seat belts, while occupants of the back seat were not. It is unclear where each occupant was sitting when the mishap occurred.
