It was just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, and Steve Forman and his wife, Lou Ann, had just set out for their annual outing to Sturgis, S.D.

Their plan was to drive into Kansas, spend the night and make the rest of the trip the next day.

But the couple barely made it out of Kingfisher.

According to a report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Formans’ vehicle was struck by another pickup-truck that failed to yield at a stop sign just west of Kingfisher on State Highway 3/33.

The accident has resulted in five charges for Michael Kraus, 71, of Kingfi sher, including a felony count of driving under the influence.

According to court records, Kraus was arrested late last week and posted a $2,500 bond. He was set to appear Wednesday in Kingfisher County District Court.

Other charges he’s facing are failure to stop at a stop sign, transporting an open container of alcohol, failure to properly wear a seatbelt and obstructing an officer, all misdemeanors.

Supplemental information provided to the court revealed Kraus also pled guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge in March 2023.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Adam Post was alerted of a two-vehicle accident on the state highway at County Road N2830.

The accident report stated Kraus was northbound on the county road in a 2022 GMC Sierra when it collided with a 2017 Ford F450 King Ranch pickup-truck hauling a 40foot trailer driven by Steve Forman.

According to the affidavit, an employee of a local wrecker service was attempting to gain access to Kraus, who was on the passenger side of the vehicle with both the front and side airbags deployed.

Post said in the affidavit that he heard Kraus tell the wrecker service employee to locate a bottle and get rid of it.

There was an open bottle of vodka on the ground just outside the passenger door that had fallen out when the door was opened, according to the affidavit.

Two people who drove up on the accident and stopped to help also told Post that Kraus had attempted to persuade them to throw the bottle in the ditch, according to the affi davit.

The affidavit said Post confirmed with Kraus that Kraus was the driver of the vehicle. “Due to the nature of the crash, and Kraus not wearing a seatbelt, he had been tossed over to the passenger side during the collision,” according to the affidavit.

Post also wrote in his affidavit that Kraus “had a thick speech.”

Kraus suffered lacerations on his arm and leg and was transported by Kingfisher EMS to Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City.

Post said he filled out a search warrant request to obtain a blood sample of Kraus from the hospital in order to submit it to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for toxicology testing.

Later in the affidavit, Post said he interviewed Kraus on Aug. 5 at Kraus’ residence regarding the accident.

Kraus said he poured some vodka in his drink prior to the accident, but “had not consumed any other alcohol that day,” according to the affidavit.

He also told Post that he was driving west on S.H. 3/33 when the accident occurred, according to the affidavit. Post wrote “the physical evidence and statements made by the other driver do not match this statement.”

Forman said he and his wife may have missed out on a vacation, but he was “just so thankful God saved us.”

Lou Ann Forman was taken by Kingfisher EMS to Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City.

According to Steve Forman, she was released about 3 a.m. after being treated for “severe whiplash.”

He said she also had a big bruise on her stomach due to the seatbelt and is also getting treatment for a bruised right shoulder.

Steve Forman refused treatment at the scene. He said he had personal belongings in the trailer that he wanted to get back to his home.

Forman said an X-ray and CT scan the next day revealed a “severe bone bruise” in his right hip.

“Both of us are having trouble sleeping,” Forman told the KT&FP.