Miami man charged with DUI in death of northeast Oklahoma boy
MIAMI, Okla. — A Miami man is charged with driving under the influence in the death of a 10-year-old Commerce elementary student.
Court records filed Thursday in Ottawa County District Court, say Douglas Gray refused to submit to a breath analysis or give a blood sample when officers made the request. That request came from law enforcement officials who were investigating a report about a utility vehicle running over a child.
The DUI charge filed against the 67-year-old, is a misdemeanor.
Court records say Easton Freeman was running along-side the 2018 Can-Am Defender, a side-by-side UTV, when he slipped in mud, falling into the road. That's when he was run over.
According to the arrest affidavit, Freeman's parents were also riding in the UTV when the incident happened. Easton was first transported to a Miami hospital but was pronounced dead after being flown to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Click here for more information on funeral arrangements.
Easton attended Alexander Elementary School in Commerce and is the grandson of Ottawa County Sheriff David Dean.
When Gray refused to submit to alcohol tests, he told investigators, 'They had all been drinking prior to the crash,' the affidavit states.
Gray told investigators he had been drinking 'Pepsi and Canadian Mist' a couple of hours before the crash and consumed his last drink at the time of the incident.
In addition to the GoFundMe account established to help defray funeral-related costs, friends have set up a shirt fundraiser, and Commerce Public Schools has opened a donation fund in honor of Freeman.
Those wishing to help can do so by dropping off or mailing their donation to:
Easton Freeman Memorial Fundc/o Commerce Public Schools217 Commerce StreetCommerce, OK 74339
Commerce School Superintendent, Stephen Moss, issued a statement today saying the district was shifting to virtual learning on Monday, April 28, to allow students, staff, and families attend Easton's funeral service.
Moss said there is a pre-scheduled track meet on Monday and students were given the option to compete in Easton's memory by wearing a camouflage-taped wristband in his honor. He added that for those students who wanted to attend the funeral instead of competing, they would be excused from the competition.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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