A 57-year-old Wagoner man was killed early Thursday on the Muskogee Turnpike in Wagoner County after a car slammed into the back of his motorcycle, according to authorities. The rider, identified as Thomas Pless of Wagoner, was pronounced dead at the scene, and no other injuries were reported.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said, via KTUL, that the crash happened just after 5:30 a.m. as both vehicles were headed north in the outside lane. The car's driver told troopers the motorcycle stopped suddenly, and the car struck it from behind, knocking Pless off the bike.
Recent crash patterns in eastern Oklahoma
The wreck is the latest in a string of deadly motorcycle crashes on eastern Oklahoma highways this spring, underscoring the risks riders face on high-speed routes. Hoodline has covered similar cases in recent months, including a deadly late-night ride near Webbers Falls and other serious crashes on state highways.
OHP investigating
Troopers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are investigating the turnpike crash and have not announced any charges, KTUL reports. Officials continue to urge drivers to leave extra following distance around motorcycles and stay alert on the turnpike as investigators work to determine exactly what happened.
