Two Hurt, I-35 Shut Down for Hours After Fiery Three-Vehicle Crash Near NE 36th Street in Oklahoma City

Two people were injured Friday evening, June 19, after a fiery three-vehicle crash shut down Interstate 35 northbound in Oklahoma City and backed up traffic in both directions for hours. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the wreck happened just before 6:00 p.m. near the NE 36th Street underpass and involved a semi truck, a tractor pulling a brush hog, and a third vehicle. Investigators believe the tractor entered I-35 and was struck by the semi truck, which then collided with another vehicle before crashing into the NE 36th Street underpass and catching fire. The semi, which bore Frito-Lay branding, was left charred by the blaze. Oklahoma City Fire Department crews responded quickly and extinguished the flames. All northbound lanes of I-35 were closed at NE 36th Street while crews worked the scene, causing significant delays for area commuters. Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers confirmed that two people were transported to OU Medical Center for treatment. As of Friday night, the extent of their injuries had not been disclosed, and the crash remains under investigation.

Location and Infrastructure

The crash occurred on Interstate 35 northbound at its underpass with NE 36th Street, a heavily traveled corridor connecting downtown Oklahoma City to northeast neighborhoods and outlying suburbs. This stretch of I-35 carries a mix of commuter traffic, commercial trucking, and through-traffic heading toward the Turner Turnpike, making it a high-volume area where merging vehicles, slower-moving farm or utility equipment, and large trucks frequently share the same lanes. NE 36th Street serves as a key east-west connector beneath the interstate, and on-ramps in this area require vehicles entering from local roads to merge into fast-moving highway traffic with limited acceleration distance. Closures at this interchange typically cause significant ripple effects across the broader OKC metro highway network, given its proximity to other major junctions and its role as a primary north-south route through the city.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Oklahoma law, individuals injured in motor vehicle collisions may be entitled to pursue compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Oklahoma follows a modified comparative negligence standard (Okla. Stat. tit. 23, § 13), meaning an injured party can recover damages as long as they are found to be less than 50% at fault for the crash, though any recovery is reduced by their assigned percentage of fault. Claims involving commercial vehicles, such as semi trucks, may also implicate federal motor carrier safety regulations and the trucking company's commercial insurance policy. Oklahoma's statute of limitations generally requires a personal injury lawsuit to be filed within two years of the date of the accident. Because evidence such as crash scene data, witness accounts, and vehicle inspection records can become harder to obtain over time, those affected are encouraged to document the incident and retain relevant records as early as possible. This information is general in nature and not a substitute for individualized legal advice.

Related Resources

• Oklahoma Highway Patrol – crash reports and investigation updates: https://www.dps.state.ok.us
• Oklahoma City Fire Department – emergency response and public safety information: https://www.okc.gov/departments/fire
• OU Medical Center – trauma and emergency care: https://www.oumedicine.com
• Oklahoma Department of Public Safety – Traffic Safety – statewide crash data and road safety resources: https://www.dps.state.ok.us
• Oklahoma Department of Transportation – road conditions and closures: https://www.odot.org
• 211 Oklahoma – support services, crisis assistance, and resource referrals for accident victims and their families: https://www.211oklahoma.org
• Oklahoma Statutes Title 47 (Motor Vehicles) – state traffic laws and regulations: https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/index.asp?ftdb=STOKST47&level=1