Cate Charged With Negligent Homicide

Cate, Nina

A 20-year-old Vian woman has been charged with negligent homicide related to a fatal vehicle crash in July that resulted in the death of 22-year-old Deana Everett of Vian. 

Nina Cate, of Vian, was charged Monday, Oct. 22 with one misdemeanor count of negligent homicide-motor vehicle, punishable by a fine of $100-$1,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both.

On Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at approximately 12:48 p.m. Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) troopers responded to a two vehicle collision that had occurred on State Highway 64 at County Road South 4550 Road between Vian and Sallisaw. 

According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the warrant OHP troopers determined that a truck was stopped in the westbound lane waiting to turn left onto South 4550 Road when Nina Cate approached the truck from the rear, failed to stop, and swerved into the eastbound lane to avoid the truck. Cate's vehicle then struck an eastbound vehicle driven by Richard Burleson. Everett, the front seat passenger in Burleson's vehicle, died at the collision scene from injuries sustained in the collision.

Cate told authorities that she had turned around to give her child, who was in the back seat, a piece of candy. When she turned back around, a truck in front of her had stopped. She then steered to the left to avoid the truck, not knowing a vehicle was coming in the eastbound lane.

Cate was taken into custody and later released on a $1,500 bond.

At the time of the accident Burleson was transported to a Fort Smith hospital with internal trunk injuries in stable condition. Three additional juvenile passengers in Burleson’s vehicle, ages 4, 1-and-a-half, and 2 months were all treated and released from a Fort Smith hospital. Cate and a 1-year-old juvenile passenger in her vehicle were both airlifted to a Tulsa hospital and were admitted with arm and leg injuries, respectively, in stable condition.

Cate is scheduled for arraignment on the charge at 1:30 p.m. today (Wednesday, Oct. 24) in Sequoyah County District Court before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters.

KXMX News Staff

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