The driver of the SUV, 24-year-old Nina McCollom, was taken into police custody and later arrested. Police say she was arrested for driving under the influence and manslaughter. McCollom and a friend were driving along the expressway when they began to turn into the IHOP parking lot. Witnesses told police she was going fast when she made the turn. Police say the SUV went over a curb, through some grass, down another curb and then over a parking block and then into the building. The vehicle only went about three-feet into the building. However, the car struck right where Pitts and a friend were sitting. Police say Pitts died of blunt force trauma to the abdomen. A woman who was at the restaurant with Pitts was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
McCollom was overcome with emotion at the scene. Police say there were "indications" she and the passenger in her SUV had been drinking. Lt. Roger Bratcher, with the Oklahoma City Police Deparment, says, "If she's had any alcohol in her system at all and she's been involved in a fatality accident she can be charged." Police did a blood alcohol test on McCollom; however, they say the results are not immediately available. No formal charges have been filed against McCollom.
