Fatal

58-year-old Joseph Edward Helmka was struck by a vehicle around 3:00 AM last night near the corner of NW 10th and MacArthur.  He was spotted by a passing motorist and was rushed to the hospital but he expired before arriving at the hospital.  Police are asking anyone with information regarding this crash to contact them at 405-235-7300.

It’s been two years since the Oklahoma cycling community was shocked by two bicycle fatalities in less than 48 hours both involving long time cyclists. One of those incidents involved the hit-and-run killing of Alan Spencer. The driver in that crash has never been identified and police now consider the case a cold one. As the anniversary of the crash approaches, the Spencer family repeats their plea for information in the case and for the driver of the car to come forward. [Read More]

One of the three cyclists injured in yesterday’s bicycle collision at Lake Hefner has died as a result of his injuries. The rider, Bernard Monty Maughan, 68, was travelling westbound when he collided with two cyclists (of a group of four) travelling east. From NewsOK: Updated 5/2/2012 5:12 PM: Many have asked me both in comments and emails about the cause of the accident to which I have had no information. [Read More]

Updated 5/2/2012: It has now been reported that one cyclist has died from his injuries. Details here. The Oklahoman is reporting that three cyclists were injured tonight at around 7:00 PM on Lake Hefner dam: About 7 p.m., four bicyclists were traveling east at the Lake Hefner Dam when a 70-year-old man bicycling west collided with two of them, Emergency Medical Services Authority spokeswoman Lara O’Leary said. via Three bicyclists hurt at Lake Hefner | NewsOK. [Read More]

The Tulsa World is reporting that Tausha Borland, who killed two cyclists in 2009 while driving under the influence, will now serve twenty years instead of the original 24 year sentence: At a one-year judicial review conducted Tuesday, Kellough modified that sentence to 20 years in prison plus four years of probation. Kellough indicated that punishment, rehabilitation and protection of the public were factors he considered in reaching his decision. [Read More]

I’m a little late on this one, but News 9 has a well made Christmas time story on the Alan Spencer Hit-and-Run case and a continued plea for any information regarding the driver in this case:

As a reminder, there is a $6,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in this case. If anyone knows anything about this tragic event, they should contact Crimestoppers at: 405-236-7300.

James Michael Hazzard, 20, who hit and killed Debra Miller last August, has pleaded no contest to negligent homicide and has been ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution to the family: A driver accused of hitting and killing a bicycle rider on State Highway 51 west of Stillwater earlier this year has pleaded no contest to negligent homicide. . . . Special Judge Michael Stano deferred sentencing and judgment for one year, but required Hazzard to pay $20,000 in restitution by Jan. [Read More]

Another cycling fatality occurred yesterday near the corner of Northwest Expressway and MacArthur: Anthony Guzman, 14, was riding a 20-inch BMX bicycle in the 5700 block of Northwest Expressway when he tried to cross from south to north and was hit by an eastbound car. Guzman was dead at the scene, said police Maj. Hugh Osborn. He lived in the area, Osborn said. via Name of boy killed on bicycle in Warr Acres released | NewsOK. [Read More]

Tausha Borland Tausha Borland, who earlier plead guilty to last year’s Hit-and-Run crash in Sand Springs that left two cyclists dead and one injured has been sentenced to 24 years in prison: A Sand Springs woman was sentenced Thursday to 24 years in prison in a manslaughter case linked to the deaths of two bicyclists. Tausha Borland, 39, pleaded guilty Sept. 13 to two counts of first-degree manslaughter. She waived her right to a trial, and she had no plea agreement with prosecutors regarding her punishment. [Read More]

I know I tweeted about this possibility awhile back, but I’m just now getting the story published. In any case, charges have been filed against James Hazzard in the death of Debra Miller: A negligent homicide charge was filed Thursday against a man who drove off state highway 51 and killed a Stillwater bicyclist riding on the shoulder, District Attorney Rob Hudson said. Edmond resident James Michael Hazzard, 20, could spend up to one year in a county jail if convicted of the misdemeanor charge. [Read More]