Youth dies following pedestrian accident

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

— A young man from Watts, Okla., died Friday as a result of injuries he received when he was struck by a car on Main Street in Gentry, just north of the city park.

According to police reports, Zachary Eli Riley, 18, was walking on the roadway, where sidewalks were available, at 3:53 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, when he was struck by a 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera driven westbound on Main Street by Frederick Hayes, 32, of Gentry.

Statements of both Hayes and his passenger, David Devey, Jr., 46, of Gentry, indicate that Riley “came out of nowhere” and was not seen by themuntil the moment of the accident. Hayes and Devey stated they were on the way to EZ-Mart for coffee when the accident occurred.

According to police reports, Riley had been drinking and was impaired. Hayes and Devey had not been drinking and showed no signs of impairment.

According to reports, Hayes sent Devey to EZMart to call for help while he stayed with Riley.

Reports indicate that lighting was poor and the road damp because of weather conditions. Riley also was wearing dark clothing at the time of the accident.

According to police reports, Riley had earlier knocked on the windowat a girlfriend’s house. According to her statements, Riley had been drinking and had taken allergy medicine. She tried to get him to come in but he refused. She also tried to call some of Riley’s family members and a friend but no one would come to get him.

According to her statement, Riley had a recent history of drug use and left screaming of committing suicide, but he had done so before when angry.

Riley was transported by ambulance to Siloam Springs Regional Medical Center and later to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Okla.

Hayes was cited for failure to provide proof of insurance.

News, Pages 2 on 12/12/2012