The Norman Transcript

Local news

Discussion

October 16, 2012

Victim identified in fatal crash

By Jessica Bruha The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Deputy fire chief: Retired fire captain was heading home

Retired Norman Fire Captain Billy Tompkins, 69, was identified as the victim of a single-vehicle, fatal accident Saturday morning on Southeast 60th Avenue.

Police responded to the call just after 11 a.m., where they found Tompkins in the vehicle with massive injuries. Representatives of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner took custody of Tompkins’ body at the scene.

According to the preliminary collision report, Tompkins’ Chevrolet pickup left the roadway and collided with a tree.

Norman Deputy Fire Chief Jim Bailey said Tompkins was on his way home after an annual retired firemen’s breakfast earlier that morning.

“He had just spent the morning with us,” Bailey said.

The breakfast was at Fire Station No. 8. Bailey said the accident occurred near the retired captain’s home.

Tompkins was with the Norman Fire Department for 21 years.

“He was well thought of and well loved by the firefighters,” Bailey said. “There wasn’t anyone that I knew of that ever had any problems with him. He was a great team builder with the guys.”

According to an accident report, Tompkins’ truck slid off the roadway and initially struck what was described as a buried cable sign before striking a tree. The pickup collided with the tree on the driver’s side.

Police said the investigation is still incomplete. Weather conditions Saturday morning were rainy, but it has not been determined what caused the accident.

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

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local news
  • Tornado Tornado tears through county

    A spring storm packing a single tornado ripped across far eastern Cleveland County on Sunday evening, carrying hail, strong winds and injuring at least six persons, with three in critical condition....

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • Tornado Pecan Valley neighborhood hit

    The Pecan Valley housing addition in unincorporated Cleveland County northeast of Lake Thunderbird took the hardest hit in the Norman area as a tornado tracked across the lake Sunday evening. At the emergency command post set up at the ...

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • Board looks at hirings

    The hiring of three key administrators tops Monday’s meeting of the Norman Public Schools board of education. The board meets at 7 p.m. in the Norman City Council chambers, 201 W. Gray St....

    May 20, 2013

  • OU V Arkansas Sooners will rematch Razorbacks in regional title game today

    It’s a rematch on tap today at Marita Hynes Field. Top-ranked Oklahoma will face No. 24 Arkansas in the NCAA softball regional championship a day after downing the Razorbacks 10-5 in the second round of the regional tournament....

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • camp 4 J.D. McCarty Center hosts open house for Camp ClapHans

    The excitement of summer camp is no longer off limits to local children with special needs, thanks to J.D. McCarty Center’s upcoming Camp ClapHans....

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • May rainfall below needed levels in state

    Norman residents looking for dry days to mow yards may think spring rains are coming frequently, but experts say those rains are less than central Oklahoma needs to pull itself out of the three-year-long drought. Lake Thunderbird’s ...

    May 19, 2013

  • Riverwind Casino to host blood drive

    Riverwind Casino invites everyone to give blood from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday. The blood drive is one of 10 hosted by local casinos teaming up to support the Oklahoma Blood Institute during May....

    May 19, 2013

  • CCGS to host archivist

    The Cleveland County Genealogical Society will welcome Jan Davis, administrative archivist for the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the south lobby of the Community Services Building at 12th Avenue NE and East Main ...

    May 19, 2013

  • Cleveland County 4-H summer workshops

    The Cleveland County Extension Office will host nearly 50 workshops throughout the summer. Workshops include photography, clay modeling, geocaching, kayaking and fishing. The workshops and field trips associated with the 4-H Youth ...

    May 19, 2013

  • Sixth annual Youth Soccer Camp starts this month

    The sixth annual Youth Soccer Camp at the Whittier Recreation Center runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 29 through June 31 for ages 6-12. All camps are co-ed. The deadline to sign up is Thursday....

    May 19, 2013