Oklahoma County settles lawsuit over traffic death for $500,000

Oklahoma County property owners will pay $500,000 more in taxes because of a 2014 traffic fatality blamed on a speeding and possibly distracted sheriff's deputy.

Oklahoma County commissioners voted in December to settle a federal lawsuit over the traffic death for that amount. A judge approved the settlement last week. The settlement will result in an increase in property taxes in Oklahoma County for three years.

"It was a great tragedy, and there's no question the county was at fault," County Commissioner Brian Maughan said last week.

Killed was Robert B. Porter, 66, of Oklahoma City. He was severely injured Jan. 27, 2014, when the deputy's patrol car crashed into the back of his pickup on Interstate 35. The pickup was knocked off the interstate. It rolled several times and ended up on its top in a grove of trees.

-snip-

The deputy was traveling south on the interstate at 108 mph, without his emergency lights or sirens on, in the dark of night, while typing into his onboard computer at the time of the crash, according to the lawsuit.

Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-county-settles-lawsuit-over-traffic-death-for-500000/article/5539457