Tragedy Strikes Before Wedding Day in Oklahoma Wrong-Way Crash

A woman planning her wedding was tragically killed in a crash caused by an alleged drunk driver in Oklahoma just weeks before her wedding day. Her fiancé, Tristen Cherry, shared the final moments they spent together, expressing his love amidst the heartbreaking event.

In the early hours of May 2, Cherry and his fiancée, Katelyn Callahan, 23, along with two teenagers, were returning from the Calf Fry Festival in Stillwater when a driver under the influence heading the wrong way on Interstate 44 collided with their vehicle. Callahan, who was behind the wheel, was pronounced dead at the scene. Cherry, a backseat passenger, survived but was left in a coma for nearly a month, suffering multiple severe injuries, including facial fractures, a lacerated kidney, and dental trauma.

Cherry recounted the final seconds before the crash, saying, “I sat up and saw headlights. I told Katelyn I loved her before everything went wrong.” Despite his injuries, Cherry has begun the process of healing and shared his grief, saying, “Healing takes time, and time takes healing.”

The couple, together for three years, was scheduled to marry on May 31 in Bristow. They considered their relationship a story of enduring love, which blossomed after a high school connection and a romantic invitation to a fraternity formal. Their love story was celebrated on their wedding website, describing their bond as “God’s plan” and “the greatest love story this town has ever seen.”

Days after the crash, Cherry, now discharged from the hospital, reflected on the loss and the love they shared. He described visiting her in her wedding dress and how their families gathered in her memory. Tragically, Cherry learned of Callahan’s passing shortly after awakening from his coma, underscoring the devastating impact of the crash.

The driver, 29-year-old Sergio Ibarra, was arrested and charged with first-degree manslaughter and multiple counts of driving under the influence. He and his passenger, a 36-year-old woman, were hospitalized along with the teenage passengers involved in the collision.