Democratic Oklahoma state senator, 29, is charged with manslaughter after she slammed into another car at 90mph on a rain-slicked road and killed the driver
An Oklahoma state senator has been charged with manslaughter for allegedly slamming into another car at 90mph and killing the driver.
Democratic Sen. Alison Ikley-Freeman, 29, who was seriously injured in the May crash, was charged on Monday in Lincoln County after the crash on the rain-slicked road.
Ikley-Freeman was doing 91mph in a 75mph zone in rainy conditions on the Turner Turnpike as she headed to the state Capitol at 7.30am on May 22, according to state troopers.
Oklahoma State Sen. Alison Ikley-Freeman, 29 (left), has been charged with first-degree manslaughter in a May 2020 crash that killed Enrique Lopez, 44 (right)
Enrique Lopez, 44, whose Chevy Camaro had skidded off the road earlier and was stuck in a ditch, died at the scene.
The patrol reported Ikley-Freeman was trapped in the wreckage of her 2015 Honda CRV for 40 minutes before she was rescued and rushed to Oklahoma University Medical Center in serious condition. She has since mostly recovered from her injuries.
Ikley-Freeman was operating the vehicle in 'complete disregard for the motoring public' and was committing several misdemeanors when the accident occurred, including speeding, reckless driving, driving too fast for the weather and failing to stay in a single lane, Trooper Shayne Ballard wrote in an affidavit.
Ikley-Freeman's attorney, John Hunsucker, said in a statement that he was still reviewing the allegations, but added: 'We believe that when the facts are completely vetted, it will show that this was a tragic unavoidable accident. Our sympathies for the family of Mr. Lopez.'
If convicted of first-degree manslaughter, Ikley-Freeman faces between four years and life in prison.
The charges against the state senator were filed a week after she lost her re-election bid to Republican Cody Rogers.
Prior to Election Day, Ikley-Freeman addressed the deadly accident in an interview with NonDoc.
'It was a tragedy, but sometimes they’re unavoidable,' she said in October. 'I’m walking again, albeit much slower, but it just takes a lot of time for bones to heal.'
Authorities say Ikley-Freeman was speeding when her Honda CRV skidded off a rain-slickened interstate and crashed into Lopez's disabled car
Ikley-Freeman, a therapist by trade with a Master's degree in clinical mental health from Northeastern State University, was elected to the state Senate in a special election in 2017.
She and her wife, Dawn, have two sons and a daughter.
The victim of the crash, Enrique Lopez, known to his loved ones as Rique, lived in Bristow with his wife of 20 years. He operated a small farm and raised alligators.
'Rique was loved by all who knew him and his winning smile made many friends,' his obituary stated. 'Whatever he set out to do, he did, no matter what. He had worlds of confidence and rarely was he mistaken.'
It is very sad of the focus of the article was the injuries, which were self inflicted upon the senator. There is very little mention of the victim, who had no power to stop what was coming his way. I have no sympathy, nor empathy for the Senator... Been justice be served swiftly and accordingly. My love and prayers and empathy to the family of the victim.
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