A 78-year-old Tulsa man died after his motorcycle ran off New Sapulpa Road and flipped into a ditch, where he lay undiscovered for roughly two hours despite several vehicles passing near the crash scene. Sapulpa police have identified the victim as Jerry Burleson, who was riding a Harley Trike northbound near West 100th Street when he drifted off the roadway, struck a guardrail, and flipped over.
According to Sapulpa Times, the crash happened around 10:30 a.m. on the state highway, a major arterial route connecting Sapulpa to Tulsa. Sapulpa Police Captain Troy Foreman told the outlet that surveillance video reviewed by investigators showed several vehicles near the crash scene at the time it occurred, but no passing drivers stopped or called 911. As reported by FOX23, Burleson is believed by Sapulpa police to have suffered a medical emergency before he began to drift to the side of the road.
Two Hours Unnoticed Along a Busy Corridor
Burleson was not found until about 12:30 p.m., when a worker at a nearby business noticed vehicle debris along the roadside and went to investigate, the same account states. First responders attempted CPR after arriving, but the victim had already passed away. Per FOX23, a passing police officer called for backup after nearby business workers discovered the motorcycle and rider in the ditch, and Sapulpa police have since notified Burleson's next of kin.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and Sapulpa police say the case remains active as they continue gathering evidence, including the surveillance footage from surrounding businesses. Investigators have indicated they will provide updates as more information becomes available, though whether the medical episode or the physical trauma from the crash ultimately caused Burleson's death has not been determined publicly.
A Roadway With a History of Hazards
New Sapulpa Road, also known as State Highway 66, has been the site of previous fatal traffic incidents, and law enforcement has previously noted that minimal street lighting and a lack of pedestrian infrastructure created hazardous conditions along the corridor, according to a 2019 report from KOTV News On 6.
Oklahoma's Rising Motorcycle Death Toll
Burleson's death adds to a troubling statewide pattern. Oklahoma's overall traffic fatalities fell to 645 in 2024, but motorcycle deaths climbed to a 10-year high of 106 that year, up 19% from 89 deaths in 2015, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data cited by Lawter & Associates. The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office recorded 107 motorcyclist fatalities in 2023, and federal data cited by Gorospe Law Group shows motorcyclists face a fatality rate nearly 28 times higher than passenger vehicle occupants per mile traveled.
Under Oklahoma law, helmet use is mandatory only for riders and passengers under 18, meaning adult motorcyclists like Burleson are legally free to ride without head protection. National data compiled by the National Safety Council shows the risks facing older riders specifically: 662 motorcyclists aged 65 and older were killed in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024, part of 9,727 total motor-vehicle deaths in that age group. NHTSA figures also show that people 65 and older accounted for 7,891 traffic deaths nationwide in 2023, or 19% of all fatalities. Medical trauma research published through the National Institutes of Health found that motorcyclists over 65 who suffer severe crash injuries die at a rate of 15.8%, compared with 7.2% for injured riders aged 45 to 64.
Sapulpa police have not released further details about what caused Burleson to lose control of his motorcycle, and the investigation into the crash continues.
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