Just three months into 2025, SH6 west of Elk City is nearing a 10-year fatality record
Dale Denwalt
Daily Elk Citian
On any given day, thousands of cars, trucks and semis shuffle down State Highway 6 in western Oklahoma.
This road has become the nexus for oilfield traffic. On some parts of the thin ribbon of pavement, even the busiest, there is only 12 inches of shoulder separating the vehicles from pastureland on either side.
The highway is known by several names, most disparaging of all - "Suicide 6" - named for perceived state of mind others see in those hurrying along, trying to pass the rumbling oil tankers and slower cars. Sometimes, those unsafe lane changes result in head-on collisions.
Other times, the driver is sleepy, inattentive or fails to yield. Sometimes, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol doesn't know what caused the crash.
In just the first three months of this year, Highway 6 between Elk City and the Texas state line is nearing as many fatalities as there were in 2005, which at five fatalities was the deadliest year since 2002.
Three men have died on the highway since the beginning of the year.
ODOT maintains a rolling to-do list for its roads and bridges. When a project makes that list, it's because of several factors, including accident history and importantly, available funds. State Highway 6 west of Elk City has no scheduled improvements, but because of the recent fatality and injury crashes, as well as The Daily Elk Citian's persistent coverage of the issue, ODOT is aiming a keener eye on the road. As one agency official put it, "I can guarantee you it's on the department's radar now."
ODOT Contact Information:
Beckham County Maintenance Superintendent
Cody Howell
(580) 928-3120
I-40 Maintenance Superintendent
Alex Aranda
(580) 225-2960
ODOT Division 5 Engineer
Brent Almquist
(580) 323-1431
Read the April 4, 2025 edition of The Daily Elk Citian for a more in-depth look at the dangers and possible fixes for State Highway 6.