Local News
Victims Killed in Fiery Wrong-Way Crash on I-40 in Canadian County Identified
CANADIAN COUNTY, Okla. — Four young people were killed in a devastating wrong-way crash early Friday morning on Interstate 40 in Canadian County, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
Authorities identified the victims as 20-year-old Kiercy Hickson of Stillwater, 19-year-old Quincy Jones of El Reno, 18-year-old Haliegh Salazar of El Reno, and 18-year-old Brad Palmer of El Reno.
Investigators said the crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. near Czech Hall Road when a vehicle traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 collided head-on with another vehicle carrying the four victims.
According to Lt. Mark Southall with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, troopers had received reports of a vehicle driving the wrong direction on I-40 moments before the collision occurred.
“Our troopers received a call of a vehicle traveling the wrong direction on I-40,” Southall said. “Troopers were responding to the area when they came upon the collision scene.”
Authorities said the wrong-way vehicle struck the victims’ car head-on in the inside lane, causing a violent impact that ignited one of the vehicles in flames.
The wrong-way driver was identified as 26-year-old Michael Cruz of Tennessee. He was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Investigators said evidence at the scene suggests alcohol may have contributed to the crash.
“We do believe alcohol did play a factor in this,” Lt. Southall said, noting that empty alcohol containers and other indicators of impairment were found inside the suspect vehicle.
The crash remains under active investigation as authorities continue reconstructing the events leading up to the deadly collision.
The deaths of Quincy Jones, Brad Palmer, and Haliegh Salazar have deeply impacted the El Reno Public Schools community.
School officials released a statement mourning the loss of the recent graduates.
“Quincy, Brad, and Haliegh were valued members of the ERPS family whose lives touched countless others through their friendships, spirit, and presence within our schools and community,” the district said.
Officials confirmed Quincy Jones and Brad Palmer were members of the Class of 2026, while Haliegh Salazar was part of the Class of 2025.
Counseling and support services are being made available for students, staff, friends, and families affected by the tragedy.
Interstate 40 remained closed for more than four hours while emergency crews extinguished the fire, investigated the crash scene, and cleared debris from the roadway.
Traffic has since resumed in the area.
Authorities said a complete investigation report will eventually be submitted to the district attorney’s office as troopers continue working on behalf of the victims and their families.
GREENACRES, Florida — All nine people killed when a private Learjet 60 crashed into a residential neighborhood in Greenacres, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, have been identified, including a Texas family of four, their nanny, two family friends, and the two pilots aboard the aircraft.
The victims were identified as:
- Adam Robinson, 45 — Technology entrepreneur and founder of Retention.com.
- Helen Sharp — Robinson’s wife.
- Emma Robinson, 4 — The couple’s daughter.
- Charlie Robinson, 2 — The couple’s son.
- Anita Maria Cetina — The family’s nanny.
- Rachael Reed — A family friend.
- Charmi Fehr — A family friend.
- Jeff Gregory, 55 — The aircraft’s captain.
- Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20 — The co-pilot.
The devastating loss was confirmed in a statement shared by the families of several passengers, who described the victims as deeply loved individuals whose lives were filled with family, friendship, generosity, and affection.
In their statement, the families said Adam Robinson and Helen Sharp were devoted parents whose children, Emma and Charlie, were the center of their lives. The couple was remembered for their warmth, generosity, and ability to make others feel welcome.
“Adam and Helen were devoted parents, and Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were the light of their lives,” the statement said, describing the couple’s relationship as a love that would last forever.
Family members also remembered Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr as joyful, adventurous people who loved their friends and families wholeheartedly. They said the two women shared a close bond and brought happiness to the lives of those around them.
Anita Maria Cetina, who cared for the Robinson children, was described as much more than a nanny. The family said she was truly part of their household and cared for Emma and Charlie with tenderness and devotion.
The families expressed gratitude to first responders, investigators, and members of the Palm Beach County community for their assistance and compassion following the tragedy. They also acknowledged the support and condolences they had received from people across the country.
Their statement extended sympathy to the families of the two pilots, Jeff Gregory and Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, who were also killed in the crash.
The Learjet 60 was reportedly traveling from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when it crashed in Palm Beach County.
According to information presented during a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) news conference, the flight crew contacted air traffic control shortly before the crash and reported ice accumulation and moderate turbulence.
The aircraft was reportedly cruising at approximately 35,000 feet when the pilots requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet, apparently attempting to navigate away from the reported weather conditions.
The situation reportedly deteriorated rapidly as the aircraft began losing altitude.
During the final communications with air traffic control, co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras reportedly described a severe descent, initially indicating that the aircraft was dropping at approximately 10,000 feet per minute. Subsequent reports indicated that the descent rate exceeded 20,000 feet per minute and that the aircraft had entered an overspeed condition.
A male voice, reportedly believed to be Captain Jeff Gregory, was heard reciting the Lord’s Prayer as the pilots struggled to respond to the emergency.
The final reported transmission included the words, “We’re out of time.”
At approximately 12:50 p.m. on November 1, the Learjet crashed near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in Greenacres, Florida.
The impact triggered a massive fire and left extensive destruction in the residential area. A large crater was reported near a mobile home community, while aircraft wreckage was scattered across the surrounding neighborhood.
The crash also damaged electrical infrastructure and prompted emergency crews to evacuate hundreds of residents from the area as firefighters and other first responders worked to contain the fire and secure the scene.
All nine people aboard the aircraft were killed.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation to determine what caused the Learjet 60 to crash.
Investigators are examining the aircraft’s final flight path, weather conditions, reported ice accumulation, turbulence, communications with air traffic control, and recovered wreckage.
Although the pilots reportedly communicated concerns about icing and turbulence shortly before the crash, investigators have not established whether either condition caused or contributed to the aircraft’s loss of control.
The investigation remains ongoing, and officials are expected to release additional findings as the examination of the aircraft and available evidence continues.
The tragedy has left multiple families grieving the loss of their loved ones, including two young children, and has deeply affected the Greenacres community.