Driver accused in Moore students' deaths to face trial

NORMAN—A pickup driver who accelerated to nearly 80 mph before striking a group of student runners outside Moore High School in February will face trial, a judge ruled Friday.

Max Leroy Townsend is facing 10 felony counts, including three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of seniors Rachel Freeman ,17, andKol by Crum, 18, and sophomore Yuridia Martinez, 16.

Cleveland County Special Judge Steve Tice said there was enough probable cause to send Townsend ,57, of Tuttle, to trial.

Five of the runners, including three who were struck and seriously injured, testified about what they saw, heard, felt and did that day during a seven-hour preliminary hearing for Townsend.

One of those witnesses, Isaac Romero, said he heard a loud pop after the group of about a dozen cross-country and track athletes started running east on East Main Street.

“We looked behind and saw a red truck coming toward us ,” Romero ,16, testified. “It hit the middle of our group.”

Romero described seeing Martinez and Crum get hit by the truck and watched as the force of the collision launched Martinez into a pond near the sidewalk.

“I saw her go into the pond,” he said. “My gaze kind of followed her into the pond.”

The witness checked on

Cr um, then turned his attention to Martinez, who was floating in the pond.

Romero swam about 10 feet inch in-high water and pulled Martinez to the edge of the pond. She was breathing, but uncommunicative, he said.

Townsend could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.

Freeman died at the scene. Martinez died the

next day. Crum died Feb. 15.

Also injured were Shiloh Hutchinson ,16, a junior; Joseph White, 17, a senior; Ashton Baza, 16, a sophomore; and Chance Marlett, 17, a senior.

Baza, Hutchinson a nd White, Freeman' s boyfriend, were among those who testified.

Townsend was driving an estimated 77 mph when he struck the students on a sidewalk about 3:30 p.m. Feb. 3, according to Moore police investigator who testified Friday.

The posted speed limit is 25 mph.

Max Leroy Townsend arrives for his preliminary hearing at the Cleveland County District Court in Norman, Okla., on Friday, July 24. [SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN]