ALTUS Okla_ Altus police are
investigating a hit and run that killed a man riding a bike Thursday night.
Police
said it happened around 8:30 pm about a mile east of Tamarack and Main Street, on a
bridge over the Lugert-Altus Irrigation Ditch that runs through the city.
Friday, green paint covered the eastbound lanes of the bridge marking the
locations of the items police found. Investigators would not release many
details, saying only that witnesses were able to get the license plate number
of the truck that hit the man on the bike. Police used that to track the driver
down. They said the victim was alive when first responders arrived, but he died
at the hospital.
Assistant
Police Chief Mike Bell told me investigators have talked with him, but have not
released why he left or if alcohol or drugs played a factor. Police have not
released the name of the victim, but 7News was able to speak to someone that
knew him.
Shawn Lobaugh,
a friend of the victim, placed flowers and a flag on the bridge where police
found his friend. He said the victim is a former airman at Altus Air Force Base.
Lobaugh said he and other friends heard about the accident Friday morning.
"We're all
pretty shocked," Lobaugh said. "We have officials over at Apple Creek. That's
where we stayed at, and they're pretty shocked too."
Lobaugh said the
victim was on his way home from Walmart. He was working on his car in a local
garage and needed to pick up some parts. Lobaugh said working on cars is one of
his friend's passions.
"He always
thought about life really," Lobaugh said. "He was always concerned about life,
like what's going to happen, his future, his money, and his income. He always
wanted to start his own business and was really into automotive."
Assistant Police
Chief Mike Bell said the bike the victim was riding was equipped with working
reflectors. Even though there are street lights in the area, police aren't sure
if they were working when the accident occurred.
Bell said he's
hoping the Oklahoma Traffic and Accident Investigation Team will help determine
exactly what happened at the scene.
"They have
things that we don't have," Bell
said. "They have tools that they can bring out. They have a trailer that they'll
bring down. It has a lasers and stuff on there that will tell the exact
location and measurements."
Lobaugh said he
will forever cherish the memories of his good friend, now gone.
"He was a
good veteran of mine," Lobaugh said. "He didn't always think of himself as a
veteran, since he didn't ever get deployed. I think he was a veteran either
way."
Assistant Chief
Bell was not able to tell me exactly when the state investigation team will be
coming down. Right now, he said the driver has not been charged with anything,
but that may change once the investigation is complete.
