An Atoka man has been charged for an accident that killed a man last year.
Thirty-seven-year-old Garrett Lee Hamilton was charged Aug. 20 with misdemeanor negligent homicide - motor vehicle for the Oct. 17, 2025, death of 71-year-old David W. Judd of Achille. The charge is the result of an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Unit.
According to OHP, Judd while working on an automobile on the side of the road on Highway 78 south of Allison Road when he was struck by Hamilton’s vehicle. Judd later died from his injuries.
The report stated that Hamilton was driving northbound when he became distracted and veered onto the shoulder and hit Judd and the other vehicle. Hamilton was not injured.
According to a court document, Hamilton was driving his vehicle in a reckless disregard for the safety of others because he was not paying full attention to his driving. Hamilton had not been arrested at press time, and he was sent a letter by the district attorney’s office informing him of the charge.
In other accidents, 87-year-old Wesley D. Weber of Colbert was killed Aug. 18 in a collision with an Atoka County EMS ambulance, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said.
According to OHP, Weber was attempting to turn left off Highway 6975 to enter Chickasaw Road when he drove his vehicle into the path of an ambulance that was in the inside lane. The ambulance driver, 20-year-old Ryan A. Reynolds, and two passengers in the ambulance were injured.