Jerry Newman Now In Custody In Fatal Tulsa Pursuit

<p>Police say a chase which crossed a runway at Tulsa International Airport ended with a fatal head-on crash on Highway 75 north of downtown Wednesday morning.</p>

Wednesday, May 24th 2017, 7:46 am

By: News On 6

Jerry Newman Now In Custody In Fatal Tulsa Pursuit

Police say a chase which crossed a runway at Tulsa International Airport ended with a fatal head-on crash on Highway 75 north of downtown Wednesday morning.

OHP has identified a person of interest in the deadly crash. He is Jerry "Solo" Newman, age 24. He has a long criminal history and has served time in the Department of Corrections.

He was taken into custody around 2:15 p.m. at 10800 East 33rd Place. Oklahoma Highway Patrol arrested him.

Troopers said they said they were able to locate Newman by his cell phone.

After the arrest, troopers went back to the home and found two women inside cleaning. They told troopers Newman knocked on the door and asked to use the restroom and they let him.

Troopers said they went to an apartment across from the house and reviewed their video and said they saw Newman get out of a car with the women and go inside. They said they believe Newman had a relationship with one of the women.

Both women are being questioned.

Newman has been arrested several times in Tulsa County for possession of a stolen vehicle. He was just released from prison in February, 2017. News On 6 did a story on Newman when he was arrested in 2015 for eluding police and wrecking a stolen SUV.

The victim killed in the crash has been identified as 23-year-old William Bruckman. He leaves behind a wife and three children.

Sapulpa Police said the incident began when they got a call at about 5:40 a.m. from Rush Trucking that an intruder was on its lot. The company repairs large trucks, police said. As officers responded, the man got into an ONG truck and drove off.

Sapulpa Police chased him but backed off when it got too dangerous. The OHP took over the chase which headed into Tulsa on Interstate 44. The truck exited at Harvard, then headed north toward the airport.

At about 6:20 a.m. the truck crashed through a gate south of the Air and Space Museum at Tulsa International Airport.

Trooper Dwight Durant said a trooper right behind the truck saw a commercial airliner about to take off so he used his cruiser to try to spin out the truck. Durant said it's OHP policy not to try a tactical vehicle intervention maneuver on a truck but the trooper believed he had no choice because he believed the truck was a threat to all the people on that airplane. The trooper tried the maneuver twice, but the truck kept going.

The truck crashed through another fence and went west, then got on Highway 75 north of Pine going southbound in the northbound lanes. The truck hit a car head-on, killing Bruckman, Troopers said. The truck ran off the highway and the driver ran off.

The crash closed northbound Highway 75 and one southbound lane of the highway.

Tulsa Police joined in the search near Ute and Lewis. They called in at least two K-9 units and the police helicopter, too.

The thief will face state charges for the theft and crash but also federal charges for driving across the airport.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by Bruckman's family to support his wife, Melissa, and their children.

It reads:

It is with a heavy heart we are asking for help with coming expenses and for the future of the family of William Bruckman, age 23. William was pronounced dead in the fatal head on collision on highway 75 just this morning May 24th. William leaves behind his wife Melissa Bruckman and their three children. More updates will come, but in the very least we ask that you keep this precious family in your prayers. Please share and let's do all we can to support Melissa and the kids. With Love, Brenda Smith