Paige Orr, Fox23 News
OWASSO, Okla. — The City of Owasso is grappling with a somber milestone as it enters the third month of 2026, with law enforcement and residents alike identifying a troubling trend on the roadway. Since the start of the year, Owasso has already seen five fatality collisions.
While the incidents vary in cause, members of the community have noticed a distinct pattern: four out of those five deadly crashes occurred within or near active construction zones.
The spike in fatalities comes at a time when major infrastructure projects are simultaneously impacting traffic flow on both Highway 169 and Highway 75.
These projects have resulted in narrowed lanes, shifting traffic patterns and frequent congestion, leaving what many residents describe as a zero-margin-for-error environment.
Among those who have experienced the heightened danger firsthand is Carisa Ducharme, an Owasso resident who survived two separate accidents in just three months.
Ducharme said both of her vehicles were totaled when other drivers failed to yield the right of way, turning left directly in front of her. While her accidents occurred at open intersections rather than directly inside a work zone, she believes the surrounding construction and general driver inattention are creating a perfect storm for collisions.
“A fatality is going to shock you no matter what, but it does line up. It really does,” said Ducharme. “Within that first wreck I had, I want to say the two weeks after that, it was two of those fatality wrecks back-to-back. It’s everywhere. It can’t just be because I’m noticing it now. It’s just continued. It’s not getting any better”.
Ducharme’s experience highlights a growing frustration among residents who feel that distracted driving is being magnified by the current road conditions.
She noted that the ever-changing nature of the construction makes it difficult for even daily drivers to navigate safely, especially when others are not respecting work zone boundaries.
Her message to the community is simple: “Put your phone down. You don’t need to text. You don’t need to be on that call. Things happen in a split second and it is just your responsibility as a driver, to other drivers that have kids in the car, or elderly parents or just regular people to play a role in everybody getting home safe”.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) acknowledges that work zones inherently carry an increased risk.
TJ Gerlach, a spokesperson for ODOT, stated that the agency is constantly reviewing police reports and site conditions to see if traffic control measures can be improved for public safety. Gerlach emphasized that while the agency follows strict federal guidelines for setting up work areas, driver behavior remains the most critical factor.
“The two principal causes of most of the crashes that we’ve seen in the past several years are excessive speed and distracted driving,” said Gerlach. “We want to make sure that everybody’s putting away their distractions and watching their speed, and especially as they go through those work zones.”
He also reminded drivers that a work zone isn’t just a major construction site; it includes any area where workers or flashing lights are present on the side of the road, necessitating a reduction in speed and a move-over for safety.
Despite the recent surge in local fatalities, ODOT officials noted that projects are planned up to eight years in advance to manage the state’s infrastructure and budget.
While the agency works to coordinate these projects, the sudden doubling of work zone crashes statewide between 2022 and 2023 remains a significant concern for the department.
FOX23 reached out to the Owasso Police Department for further comment on the recent fatalities and their current enforcement strategies in construction areas, but officials were unavailable for an interview on Thursday.
