The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) and the community of Vinita are mourning the devastating loss of Zac Rinehart, a Heavy Equipment Operator II, who was killed in a roadside work zone accident on Friday afternoon, August 15, 2025. The fatal incident occurred along Interstate 44 near Miami in Ottawa County, leaving Rinehart’s co-workers and loved ones heartbroken and calling attention once again to the dangers faced by highway workers across the state.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), the tragedy unfolded around 1:30 p.m., when a semi-truck traveling eastbound on the interstate veered off the roadway. At the time, Rinehart and another OTA employee were engaged in routine roadside trash collection. Rinehart was working on foot near the crew’s maintenance truck, while his co-worker was inside the vehicle.
OHP investigators reported that the semi struck Rinehart directly before crashing into the OTA truck. Despite emergency efforts at the scene, Rinehart died from his injuries. His co-worker, who was inside the maintenance truck, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Authorities confirmed that the semi-truck driver was uninjured.
The eastbound lanes of I-44 were shut down for nearly three hours as first responders, investigators, and OTA officials worked the scene, later reopening to traffic in the late afternoon.
The OTA formally identified Rinehart as the fallen worker, paying tribute to his dedication and service. Rinehart had been part of the Will Rogers Turnpike maintenance crew for the past two years, where colleagues described him as hardworking, dependable, and deeply committed to the safety and upkeep of Oklahoma’s roadways.
“This loss is deeply felt by all of his co-workers across the state,” the OTA said in a statement. “Zac was a valued member of our team, and his tragic passing is a painful reminder of the dangers faced by highway maintenance workers each day. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Rinehart family and ask Oklahomans to keep them, as well as his injured co-worker, in their prayers.”
The accident has reignited calls for increased driver awareness and caution in work zones. Officials emphasized that roadside workers remain especially vulnerable to distracted or inattentive driving. The OTA and OHP urged motorists to slow down, remain alert, and move over when approaching crews working along highways to help prevent future tragedies.
As the Vinita community rallies around the Rinehart family, tributes continue to pour in for the dedicated worker and beloved family man whose life was cut short far too soon. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.