Oklahoma Turnpike loses ten lives in pileup on Will Rogers Turnpike (UPDATED)

Ten people died in a multi-vehicle crash today on Will Rogers Turnpike (I-44) in far northeast Oklahoma after an 18-wheeler slammed into stopped traffic at high speed.

Traffic was stopped because of an earlier non-fatal crash. People on the scene are reported saying the truck barely slowed before hitting an SUV at the tail of a backup, suggesting driver inattention was the cause.

Vehicles were hurled into one another and some ended up on an embankment.

AP quotes the police lieutenant on the scene as calling it a "war zone" of "mangled metal, debris, fluids, dead bodies."

ADDITION: we initially reported nine deaths. A tenth victim, a 35 year old woman from Texas died Sunday. She had been in critical condition with head and abdominal injuries.

Some of the victims were trapped in the wreckage for as much as nine hours.

The tractor trailer driver who caused the crash was 76 years old. He's in hospital, but in good condition.

COMMENT: what the heck is a 76 year old doing with a license to drive an 18 wheeler?

TOLLROADSnews 2009-06-26 ADDITION: 2009-06-28 21:00