Man who ran down 2 Oklahoma high schools students faces manslaughter charges

Max Leroy Townsend is charged with manslaughter after officials say he drove a pickup into...
Max Leroy Townsend is charged with manslaughter after officials say he drove a pickup into cross-country students running on the sidewalk. (Cleveland County Sheriff's Office)(KXII)
Published: Feb. 7, 2020 at 2:55 PM CST
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A man has been charged with manslaughter in the deaths of two suburban Oklahoma City high school cross-country athletes whom he hit with his truck as they ran on a sidewalk.

Max Leroy Townsend is accused of running over six Moore High School runners in front of the school Monday.

Senior Rachel Freeman and sophomore Yuridia Martinez were killed and four other students were injured.

Officials say the crash happened one day after Townsend's son was killed in a traffic accident.

Prosecutors allege Townsend had stayed up drinking after his shift ended at 2 a.m. to mourn his son.

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