Cellphone possible factor in car fatality

MOSES LAKE - An Odessa man who died Tuesday after wrecking a Corvette on Stratford Road may have been using his cellphone before the accident.

A cellphone was found on the seat of the Corvette that John Wheeler, 42, of Odessa, was driving, Grant County Chief Deputy John Turley said Friday.

The back half of the phone was missing after the wreck, which usually doesn't happen if the phone is secured, Turley said. He said he was speculating Wheeler was using the phone before the wreck.

Alcohol was not a factor in the accident, he said.

The collision happened about 3:30 p.m. north of Harris Road on Stratford Road. A detour was set up around the collision scene for about three hours.

The 1986 Chevrolet Corvette Wheeler was driving reportedly drifted in the other lane. A witness reportedly said Wheeler was driving about 60 mph.

The Corvette collided with a 2003 Chevrolet pickup driven by Peter Villegas, 51, of Warden, Turley said. Villegas was wearing a lap shoulder belt and reportedly told authorities he was driving about 50 mph. Villegas was taken to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake where he was treated and released.

It's unknown if Wheeler was wearing a seatbelt.

Wheeler received multiple internal injuries from the accident and died from the injuries at 4:10 p.m. at Samaritan Hospital, Grant County Coroner Jerry Jasman said.