2 charged in cyclist’s hit-and-run death
Two men have been charged in connection with a hit-and-run accident that killed an Oklahoma City cyclist.
One man charged in the case is accused of trying to cover up the hit-and run by later crashing the damaged SUV into a highway guardrail.
Marquez Paul Taylor, 33, of Oklahoma City is accused of leaving the scene of an accident after fatally hitting cyclist Brian Howard Bailey, 47, near NW 4 and N MacArthur in the early morning hours of March 18.
At the time of the accident, Taylor was driving an SUV that belonged to the girlfriend of his friend, Clarence Parker, 44, according to a court affidavit.
Parker told police that he let Taylor drive the SUV back to Taylor’s house after Parker had too much to drink. Parker claims he fell asleep in the back seat of the SUV and was not aware of the accident that killed Bailey.
Taylor allegedly did not have a valid driver’s license at the time of the accident.
Parker is accused of attempting to cover up the hit-and-run later that morning by crashing the SUV into a guardrail on the Indian Nation Turnpike near Marietta in order to conceal damage to the vehicle caused by striking the cyclist.
Paint samples from the SUV were later found to be a match to Bailey’s bicycle and cellphone records put both Taylor and Parker near the scene of the hitand-run, according to the court affidavit.
Bailey was driving a motorized bicycle north on N MacArthur when he was struck by a vehicle that witnesses described as a black SUV.
Bailey was taken to a hospital where he died later that day.
Taylor is charged with two felonies — causing a fatality accident without a state driver’s license and leaving the scene of a fatality accident.
Parker is charged with two counts of accessory to a felony.
Attempts to contact Parker and Taylor were unsuccessful Monday. It was unclear from court records if either man had an attorney.