Claremore, OK: Nine people are injured in church van crash headed to youth rally on Monday, July 27th 2015

Nine people were injured Monday when a church van rolled over on Will Rogers Turnpike, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported. The van, owned by the Fresh Fire Outreach Center Church in Shawnee, was traveling east on the turnpike when the driver's side rear tire blew out near mile marker 270 east of Claremore, said patrol Lt. John Vincent. The van rolled over one complete time.Two adults and eight children, ages ranging from 5 to 15, were in the van when the crash occurred, troopers said.
People were taken to hospitals in Vinita and Tulsa.Reached by telephone Monday at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, co-pastor Sandra Wilkes said eight of the passengers were children, and most received minor scrapes and bruises.Three children were at St. Francis for more serious injuries, she said, and all three were in stable condition and responsive.Wilkes said the group was on its way to Branson, Mo., to attend a youth rally called Champions of Christ.Among the three treated for more serious injuries was her granddaughter, Wilkes said, and she asked her if she could still go to Branson despite her injuries. The van’s driver, Jeremy Barrientos, 22, of Shawnee, was treated at a hospital in Vinita and released, and passenger Tasha Stewart, 33, of Shawnee, declined treatment, troopers said.All of the people in the van were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident, troopers said.Carla Tapp, administrator at the Fresh Fire Outreach Center Church, said 20 children and four adults were traveling in three vehicles to attend the youth rally.

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Nine people are injured in church van crash headed to youth rally