Square Cedar Cemetery, aka Oak Grove Cemetery, Major County, Oklahoma

Waynoka woman was killed Monday night when she was struck by a semi after she crashed her car into the Cimarron River riverbed.

According to Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Wanda Janette Mendoza, 44, was southbound on U.S. 281 five miles south of Waynoka about 10:15 p.m. when her car ran off the west side of the road.

Mendoza’s 1987 Toyota went airborne, landed in the riverbed and rolled one time, the report states. She left her vehicle and walked back to the highway, according to the report, laid down in the southbound lane and was hit by a semi that did not stop.

Mendoza was dead at the scene, according to the report.

Trooper Linda Hartley, who investigated the accident, said evidence at the scene and statements made by Mendoza before the accident have led authorities to believe her actions were intentional.

Authorities don’t believe the driver of the semi realized what he hit, Hartley said. Another vehicle drove by the accident scene and initially thought Mendoza’s body was that of an animal that had been hit, she said. The driver, though, went back to the scene and realized the body was that of a human, the trooper said.

A graveside service will be at 3 p.m. today at Square Cedar Cemetery, northeast of Cleo Springs, with the Rev. Donald Hull officiating. Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home Inc., Helena.

Surviving are two sisters, Kay Sittingdown of El Reno and Sandy Hull of Waynoka, and five brothers, Tom Rauh of Casper, Wyo., Max Horn of Waynoka, Billy Ward of Enid, Stephen Johnson of Hoffman, N.C., and Don Ray Schnauffer of Texas.

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A graveside service for Janette Mendoza, 44, was held Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 3 p.m. in Square Cedar Cemetery, northeast of Cleo Springs with Rev. Donald Hull officiating. Arrangements were by Lanman Funeral Home Inc. of Helena.

Janette Mendoza was born to Maxie Boyd and June Morris Boyd and passed from this life Monday, April 23, 2007 in Waynoka.

Janette grew up in Carmen and attended Carmen Public Schools. She was baptized at age 16 at First Baptist Church in Carmen. In high school she worked at Carmen Nursing Home, and later at Waynoka Nursing Home.

Janette married Nicolas "Nick" Mendoza Sept. 25, 1996 in Waynoka. She enjoyed gardening and raising flowers and had a love for animals.

She was preceded in death by her dad, Maxie Boyd; her mother, June Horn; stepdad, Max "Pete" Horn Sr.; and twin infant sisters.

Survivors include her husband, Nick of Waynoka; two sisters, Kay Sittingdown of El Reno and Sandy Hull and husband Darrell Jr. of Waynoka; five brothers, Tom Rauh and wife Becky of Casper, Wyo., Max Horn and wife Jennifer of Waynoka, Billy Ward of Enid, Stephen Johnson of Hoffman, NC, and Don Ray Schnauffer of Texas; aunts, Peggy Boyd of Oklahoma City, Shirley Collier of Watonga, Jean Arnold and husband Leland of Enid, Tulia Weaver of Conway Springs, Kan., and Mary Nall and husband Gerald of Wakita; uncle, Raymond Watts of Chula Vista, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

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