Names Of Colbert Wreck Victims Released

COLBERT, OK - Police have released the names of three people who died in a nursing home van rollover accident.

Beacon Hill nursing home residents Ann Brychta, 103, and Wanda Gardner, 80, died after being ejected from the van. Bruno Sperber, 75, was partially ejected from the van and also died before he could be taken to Texoma Medical Center.

Police say a fourth resident, Kenneth Drake, 56, was taken to Plano in critical condition. Four others, including a driver, another staff member, and Brychta's son and her son's wife, were taken to Texoma Medical Center with serious injuries.

The seniors were returning from an outing to Choctaw Casino on southbound Highway 69/75 when authorities say a semi truck entering from an on-ramp hit the van, causing it to strike another truck on the opposite side before rolling off the roadway.

The accident happened just feet south of a "yield" sign where the on-ramp merges into highway traffic. Colbert police officer Tim McEachern says he is continuing to investigate the exact cause of the accident.

Residents at the nursing home prayed on Saturday morning with a pastor from Southside Baptist Church.