Hit-and-Run

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]

State Troopers are seeking the driver of a vehicle who struck a cyclist just west of Cement, OK last night: The crash occurred at about 7:15 p.m. on U.S. 277, just west of Cement. Troopers said Josh Steven Henderson, 17, of Chickasha, was riding his bike west on the two-lane road when the vehicle, also traveling west, hit him and caused him to veer to the right. The vehicle fled the scene, troopers said. [Read More]

News 9 is reporting that police are seeking the driver of a car who struck a cyclist on Monday morning near 31st and Military. The driver initially stopped and asked the cyclist, Bill Hartman, if he was hurt, but then when Mr. Hartman said, “Yes, I am hurt”, the driver said he was sorry but then fled the scene. The driver was middle-aged, wore glasses and had light brown hair. The vehicle is described as a small, gold colored beat-up car. [Read More]

The Tulsa World is reporting that a cyclist that was hit on Saturday in a hit-and-run crash has died: A bicyclist seriously injured in a hit-and-run collision Saturday has died. Mowery Funeral Home identified the victim as Bobby Richardson, 51, of Owasso. A motorist found Richardson in the roadway on 101st East Avenue near 12th Street at about 8:30 p.m., officers at the scene said. via Bicyclist injured in hit-and-run Saturday dies | Tulsa World. [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]

Sad news to mark my return to blogging, a man on a bicycle was struck from behind in a hit-and-run accident early Friday morning: A hit-and-run incident left a Norman man seriously injured Friday, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported. Troopers said Brian Dressler, 32, was struck from behind about 4 a.m. while riding his bicycle on the shoulder of the Interstate 35 bridge over the Canadian River in Cleveland County. [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.

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]

Sorry, I’m having to play a bit of catch up right now. Work has kept me away from the blog for awhile so some of this may be old news. However, last year’s fatal hit-and-run crash in Sand Springs seems to be nearing it’s final closure: Tausha Borland, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree manslaughter and one count of driving under the influence. She also pleaded no contest to one count of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. [Read More]