Tulsa World: Arrest made in fatal bicycle crash

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Tuesday, February 09, 2010 | WIRELESS

Home > News > Article

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Arrest made in fatal bicycle crash

Roberto Salvador Alvelais-Torres

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
Published: 9/1/2009 8:07 AM
Last Modified: 9/1/2009 10:41 PM

State troopers arrested an illegal immigrant Tuesday in the hit-and-run death of a longtime bicyclist and clinical psychologist, authorities said.

Roberto Salvador Alvelais-Torres, 28, is accused of striking Beverly Jean Duffield, 74, of Tulsa with a sport utility vehicle and then driving away, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. George Brown said.

Duffield was killed while riding her bicycle near U.S. 75 and the 1700 block of Southwest Boulevard — an area where she was known to ride frequently — on Tuesday morning.

Cherie White, a longtime friend who was at Duffield’s home Tuesday evening, said it was not the first time Duffield had been struck by a vehicle while riding a bike.

About five or six years ago, she was hit while riding on 41st West Avenue. She suffered a head injury and bore an extensive scar on her right thigh from that crash, White said.

“She was always trying to educate cyclists about cycling and being aware of their surroundings and being safe,” White added.

She said Duffield had just called her husband, Jack Duffield, about five minutes before she was struck Tuesday morning to tell him that she was getting ready to start her ride.

“Ever since the first accident, she wanted to call him and tell him when she started and when she was done to let him know she was OK,” White said.

Brown said a witness told troopers that a Chevrolet Suburban hit Duffield when both were heading south at the B and R Service Road and 17th Street near Southwest Boulevard.

Medics who responded about 7:20 a.m. pronounced Duffield dead at the scene with massive traumatic injuries, EMSA spokeswoman Tina Wells said.

The vehicle that struck her had fled the scene. Brown said troopers who were investigating the hit and run found at 31st Street and Southwest Boulevard the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban that they believe Alvelais-Torres was driving.

After finding the vehicle, they were led to Alvelais-Torres, who was arrested about 2:30 p.m. on complaints of negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, failure to stop at the scene of a fatal accident, failure to stop at a stop sign, operating a vehicle without a driver’s license and not having insurance, according to an arrest report.

Brown said Alvelais-Torres is an illegal immigrant who has been living in Tulsa.

Duffield was born in Cassville, Mo., but had lived in Tulsa for 55 years. She attended the University of Tulsa and the University of Oklahoma and was a clinical psychologist.

Jack Duffield had put her through school with income from his business, Duffield Plumbing, from which he retired about 20 years ago, White said.

The couple has a daughter, Regenia Bean, White said.

“She always loved Tulsa so much” White said of Duffield. “She was well recognized throughout the community and always strived for people to get politically involved whether they were Democrats or Republicans.”

Michael Brose, executive director of the Mental Health Association in Tulsa, said that “Beverly has been an incredible human being and professional clinician in this community for many, many years and has served many families and individuals.

“It is an incredible loss to the community and, I know, the entire mental health community.”

Todd Swain, manager of Bicycles of Tulsa, said he had known Duffield about 13 years. He said she frequently rode in the area where she was hit.

“She was an awesome lady, full of life. She was a firecracker,” Swain said.

Adam Vanderburg, who owns Lee’s Bicycles and the Trek Bicycle Store, said she was a longtime customer.

“Cycling was in her blood,” he said. “I think it was kind of her own therapy.”

Malcolm McCollam, an attorney and member of the Tulsa Wheelmen bicyclists association, said he often saw Duffield riding and that she usually rode alone.

McCollam said it is unusual that the cycling community in Tulsa would suffer a loss so soon after another recent tragedy.

Three area bicyclists were hit from behind on the shoulder of Oklahoma 51 near 165th West Avenue west of Sand Springs on June 9.

Christa Voss, 33, of Owasso and Matthew Edmonds, 34, of Tulsa were killed in that crash. The third bicyclist, John Moore of Broken Arrow, survived.

Tausha Borland of Sand Springs is charged with two counts of first-degree manslaughter plus two other counts — leaving the scene of a fatal accident and DUI involving a personal injury. She is free on bond and awaits an Oct. 26 preliminary hearing.

Customers were coming by Vanderburg’s stores throughout the day Tuesday, talking about the loss of another cyclist to a traffic accident.

“People are still absorbing it. Everyone feels like they have been kicked in the gut again,” Vanderburg said.

World staff writer Althea Peterson and World photographer Stephen Pingry contributed to this story.

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Reader Comments

Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Illegal immigrant held in death of Tulsa cyclist," which was published on 9/2/2009. So far, 298 comments have been made.