The Norman Transcript

Headlines

Discussion

December 13, 2012

Moore, Norman men killed in Tuesday’s pileup

By Debra A. Parker The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — The drivers killed in Tuesday’s six-car pileup have been identified.

David Tompkins, 27, of Moore, was transported by EMSStat to Norman Regional Hospital, where he died. David Jester, 29, of Norman, died at the scene, according to a news release from Norman Police Capt. Tom Easley.

Spc. Tompkins served in the military. Services for Tompkins are pending with Primrose Funeral Home.

The six-car pileup Tuesday morning near Flood Avenue and Tecumseh Road left two dead and two injured and blocked traffic for more than five hours.

Flood was closed to traffic from the intersection, north to the Interstate 35 merge ramp, for more than five hours.

About 7 a.m., a 2000 GMC Yukon, driven by Tompkins, was traveling south on Flood Avenue and reportedly crossed into the northbound lanes colliding with other vehicles, police said Wednesday.

Five additional vehicles were involved in the subsequent crash, police said.

David Lee Gibbs, 48, of Norman, suffered injuries in the collision, as did Robert Thomas Lorrah, 38, also of Norman. Both were taken to the hospital and treated before being released Tuesday afternoon, Easley said.

Two other drivers also were involved but did not report any injuries. Those drivers are Brian Scott McDonald, 21, of Alex, and Nicholas Heath Taylor, 31, of Norman.

Easley said Wednesday that a representative of the Office of the State Medical Examiner transported Jester’s body to their facility in Oklahoma City.

The collision remains an open investigation under the direction of Master Police Officer S. Praizner and other members of the department’s Collision Investigation and Reconstruction Team.

Easley said Tuesday that no children were involved in the accident. He said Wednesday that no information was available on the use of seat belts or regarding factors that could have contributed to the accident, such as fog, wet pavement or the use of electronic devices.

“I don’t have any of that,” Easley said. “That’s why we investigate these things.”

He also said he could not elaborate on the results of a search warrant that was issued after the collision.

“I’m simply not at liberty to discuss it,” Easley said.

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Headlines
  • Moore Tornado Moore open for business

    Until an EF-5 tornado carved a path through the economic core of Moore on Monday, sales tax generated more than $2 million each month. In addition to damages, closed roads and utility outages forced many businesses to shut their doors. ...

    May 25, 2013 1 Photo

  • Sharing stories of survival

    MOORE — As Monday’s EF-5 tornado moved closer to Plaza Towers Elementary School, teacher Justin Ayers knew they were in its path. Ayers said all of the teachers at the site likely knew what was coming from television reports and they had ...

    May 25, 2013

  • 5-year-old girl finds silver lining

    A twist of fate and the discovery of a cochlear implant from a Moore hospital damaged by Monday’s EF-5 tornado are part of the story of a precious 5-year-old girl. In December, Jayde Scholl was adopted by Tulsa audiologist Jacque Scholl. ...

    May 25, 2013

  • Disaster central

    WASHINGTON — Many states get hit frequently with tornadoes and other natural catastrophes, but Oklahoma is Disaster Central. The twister that devastated Moore was the 74th presidential disaster declared in the Sooner state in the past 60 ...

    May 25, 2013

  • Okla. legislature adjourned early

    OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma lawmakers adjourned the 2013 Legislature on Friday one week earlier than required, wrapping up a session that saw Gov. Mary Fallin advance her agenda to reduce taxes and overhaul the state workers’ compensation ...

    May 25, 2013

  • I-5 bridge falls into river

    MOUNT VERNON — The trucker was hauling a load of drilling equipment when his load bumped against the steel framework over an Interstate 5 bridge. He looked in his rearview mirror and watched in horror as the span collapsed into the water ...

    May 25, 2013

  • Tornadoes impact family twice

    On May 3, 1999, Sherrie Lambert’s sister Esther Coburn, 35, was killed by the devastating EF-5 tornado in Moore....

    May 25, 2013

  • How to help: Community challenge

    Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is challenging the community to provide long-term aid for storm victims by contributing to efforts that will provide many of these Oklahomans with homes....

    May 25, 2013

  • Obama balances threats to America

    WASHINGTON — Forecasting the changing nature of threats against the U.S. for years to come, President Barack Obama says “America is at a crossroads.” And so, too, is his presidency’s counterterrorism policy, which has long struggled to ...

    May 25, 2013

  • Hotels team up to house influx of tornado victims

    Norman hotels are used to big crowds. Whether it’s the extended family of every graduating senior at OU or tens of thousands of visiting Sooner fans, Norman always finds a way to house them....

    May 25, 2013