In the predawn hours of Monday, August 18, 2025, a serene stretch of Holly Creek Road in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, became the scene of a heart-wrenching tragedy. A 2019 Jeep Cherokee, barreling eastward at breakneck speed, veered from its path in a catastrophic sequence that would leave two lives lost and a community in mourning. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol Southeast Regional Communications Center reported the grim details of the single-vehicle crash, piecing together a story of speed, loss, and unanswered questions.
At the wheel was 23-year-old Deandra J. Price, whose high-speed journey took a fatal turn when her Jeep careened off the roadway. The vehicle slammed into a concrete bridge rail with such force that it was launched airborne, a fleeting moment of weightlessness before disaster struck. The Jeep, now out of control, slid sideways, its passenger side bearing the brunt of a violent collision with a towering tree. The impact was merciless, shattering the lives of those inside.
Shannon B. Deihl, a vibrant 26-year-old, and John C. Cockrill Jr., 35, were the passengers who bore the ultimate cost. Both succumbed to the grievous injuries sustained in the crash, their lives cut short in an instant. Deandra Price, the driver, was also injured, though details of her condition remain undisclosed, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over her fate. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has notified the families, offering what little solace can come from closure in the face of such loss.
As the sun rose over Holly Creek Road, the wreckage stood as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the consequences of a moment’s recklessness. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol continues its meticulous investigation, sifting through the debris and circumstances to uncover why the Jeep veered off course and what led to the fatal chain of events. For now, the community grieves, holding tight to memories of Shannon and John, whose lives were extinguished too soon on that fateful Monday morning.