VINITA, Okla. (KSNW) -- The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says they believe a Texas truck driver was watching TV when his truck crashed into an Oklahoma Turnpike Authority truck, killing an employee.

Our sister station, KSNF in Joplin, reports that David Carlson, 50, of Whitesboro, Texas, was charged last month with one count of first-degree manslaughter in Ottawa County. He's accused of causing the death of OTA worker Zachary Rhinehart, 36, of Vinita.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says Carlson initially told investigators that he had dropped his cell phone and was reaching down to pick it up when the truck veered off the road. His semi crashed into the back of a turnpike authority truck, which pushed the vehicle into Rhinehart, who was working outside of the truck picking up trash.

An employee

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