Background: The 12000 block of OK-59 (Google Maps). Inset left: Tamara L. Wood (Seminole County (Okla.) Sheriff’s Office). Inset right: Justin Wood (Swearingen Funeral Home).
In Oklahoma, a 37-year-old woman has been apprehended following allegations that she forced her husband’s vehicle off the road due to anger over his interactions with another woman.
Tamara Lachelle Wood now faces serious charges, including second-degree murder and reckless driving, following the tragic death of her husband, 40-year-old Justin Wood. The Seminole Lighthorse Police Department responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident on the 12000 block of Highway 59 around 3:30 p.m. on September 27, as detailed in a probable cause arrest affidavit reported by Law&Crime.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered a severely damaged 2005 BMW SUV, which had apparently rolled over. Justin Wood was found nearby, showing no signs of life, and was declared dead at the scene. Also present was a 2007 Volvo XC-90 with minor damage to its right front bumper.
Tamara Wood, driving the Volvo, recounted to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol that both she and her husband were speeding, allegedly traveling at “ninety something” miles per hour. According to her statement, her husband abruptly hit the brakes, causing her to collide with his vehicle, resulting in the SUV rolling multiple times and ejecting him. The incident followed an argument between the couple at their son’s basketball game, sparked by Tamara’s discovery of her husband’s conversation with another woman. She claimed she was pursuing him to talk when the crash occurred.
Eyewitnesses at the scene described Tamara as driving extremely close to her husband’s vehicle just before the crash, with one witness estimating their speed could have been over 100 mph.
In a conversation with law enforcement, Justin Wood’s mother revealed that although her son and Tamara had four children together, they were separated, and Justin was contemplating divorce. She noted that he had called her on the day of the unfortunate accident.
“Momma, she’s trying to run me off the road! She’s trying to run me off the road! Momma! Momma! Momma!” his mother recalled him saying.
She then heard “metal scraping” and the vehicle crashing, cops said.
Cops also spoke with two of the couple’s children, who confirmed that their mother was upset that their father was exchanging text messages with another woman. Tamara Wood apparently caused “a scene” in the gym and her husband walked outside and left in his SUV. His wife followed, cops said.
Now their four kids lost their father and have a mother facing serious prison time.
“He’s the best dad that I could ever ask for,” Wyatt Wood, 13, told local ABC affiliate KOCO. “He’s the reason I am the way I am and the reason I play sports and love basketball.”
The District 22 District Attorney’s Office issued the arrest warrant on Friday. She was eventually apprehended Tuesday afternoon, KOCO reported. Jail records indicate she is in the custody of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
“We’re going to hold her responsible for her actions that resulted in the death of her husband,” District Attorney Erik Johnson told local ABC and NBC affiliate KTEN.
