Alcohol suspected in wrong-way I-40 crash that killed four friends Friday

Grief is overwhelming the families and friends of four young people killed in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 40 early Friday morning, as investigators warn drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving ahead of a holiday weekend. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Kiercy Hickson and three of her friends, Brad Palmer, Haleigh Salazar and Quincy Jones, were driving eastbound on I-40 when a wrong-way driver hit them head-on. All four were pronounced dead at the scene. “Right now it doesn't even seem real to us,” said Wesley Hickson, Kiercy Hickson’s father. Regina Hickson, identified as Kiercy Hickson’s mother, said the loss has devastated multiple families and those who knew the victims. “So many people are missing her. And I know all of our lives, the other families as well. I have just been ripped apart. And none of us are going to be the same again,” she said. Regina Hickson said her daughter had big plans for the future. “She's just like, say, real ambitious, you know, go get her, you know, had her whole life in front of her,” she said. “I just want her to be remembered for her faith and her love for God and her friends and her family.” Friends said the four victims were close and were working toward their goals. “We were more like brothers. We basically spent most days together,” said Latin Everheart, who said he was friends with all four. Everheart said Palmer was known for “his dedication and hard work,” and said Jones shared that same drive. “Quincy had the same energy. They both had a lot of light in the world, and they both were going to college for football. They really just wanted to be great at what they were doing,” Everheart said. Everheart says he was looking forward to seeing his friends early that morning, as they were on their way to his house. "We were just waiting on them all night, and I ended up getting a call from my grandmother telling me that had happened", said Everheart. Cameron Snyder, also identified as a friend of all four, said Salazar had been working toward a career in health care and that the others were building their futures as well. “Haley was literally pursuing nursing school so she could better her own life. Quincy had a job where he was making over $20 an hour straight out of high school. Brad was going to college. So tell me in what world is it okay for them all to lose their dreams, to lose their life,” Snyder said. Snyder said he is left with questions about why the crash happened. “Why did this happen? Why was there a drunk driver on the road driving in the wrong direction? These kids didn’t deserve that. They were trying to get home safe for themselves, and instead they have to die because of it, and it hurt everybody else in the process. That ain’t right,” he said. OHP identified the driver who hit the four as 26-year-old Michael Rosario-Cruz. He was transported to a nearby hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. OHP said investigators believe alcohol was involved and that once Rosario-Cruz is released, he will face charges related to the crash. OHP also urged people not to drink and drive, especially ahead of a holiday weekend. "It's a heartbreaking scene. It's a heartbreaking crash. And this is something that didn't need to happen. There's no excuse for drunk driving. It's absolutely inexcusable. There's more times or more opportunities than ever to have an Uber at your door in a matter of minutes by the touch of your finger on your phone. So people can call rods, they can get help, they can do everything except for drive. And unfortunately, this is the worst case scenario. And our hearts break for these families of these four individuals killed," Southall said. GoFundMe links have been created to help each family during this time. In Loving Memory of Kiercy Hickson Support for Ali Salazar After Tragic Loss In Loving Memory of Brad Palmer For more local news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here.