Man Ordered To Stand Trial In Deadly Tulsa Chase, Crash

A man is headed to trial for murder for a crash that killed a victim during a police chase on May 24. 

After seven witnesses, the judge said he heard enough and ordered Jerry Newman to stand trial on five felony charges.

Newman is accused of stealing a truck and taking police on a high-speed chase through school zones, construction zone and runways at the airport, before slamming head-on into William Bruckman, who was a husband and father.

5/31/2017 Related Story: Hearing Held For Tulsa Man Charged In Deadly Police Chase

Bruckman's wife and several family members were at court in support of him.

They listened as several officers and troopers testified Newman stole an ONG work truck from a repair place in Sapulpa and nearly crashed into an officer sped off, then ran several stop lights. 

They said they tried use stop sticks but he drove around them, then a trooper tried twice to run Newman off the road, but that didn't work. 

They said even after crashing into Bruckman, Newman took off. 

He was arrested a couple hours later in East Tulsa.

"There's no proof it was even him in that truck but just being charged with something like this has taken a toll on him," said Brian Boehem, Newman's attorney. 

Prosecutors said they presented plenty of evidence to show Newman was the man behind the wheel, running from police, crashing onto airport property and driving on active runways, then going the wrong way on highway 75, causing the head-on crash.

"[Bruckman] never really had a chance. That's why we're here to seek justice for him," said Julie Doss, Assistant Tulsa County District Attorney. 

The victim's wife listened to the testimony and cried silently throughout the hearing.