Bicyclist dies after being hit by police car in northwest Oklahoma City

TONIGHT. REPORTER: EVAN, JESS, JUST A SAD SITUATION HERE. A FRIEND OF THE VICTIM TELLS ME HE STARTED BIKING TO GET SOME EXERCISE, BUT SADLY HE NEVER MADE IT HOME LAST NIGHT, AND THAT’S THE NEWS HIS FATHER RECEIVED JUST HOURS AGO. >> I FEEL HELPLESS. ABSOLUTELY HELPLESS. REPORTER: THAT’S HOW MAX KRAUSE FEELS AFTER FINDING OUT HIS SON, A BELOVED MAGICIAN AND PERFORMER WHO SHARES THE SAME NAME WAS H WHILE BIKING HOME LAST NIGHT. >> I’M JUST STUNNED. REPORTER: AN OKLAHOMA’S -- OKLAHOMA CITY OFFICER IN A POLICE CAR HIT HIS SON, SEVERLY INJURING HIM. >> SEVERE DAMAGE TO HIS SPINE. IF HE DOES PULL THROUGH IT, HE’LL NEVER WALK AGAIN. HE’LL BE PARALYZED FROM THE NECK DOWN. REPORTER: OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE SAY THEY ARE INVESTIGTING THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT BUT SAY SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. >> IT WAS LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE OUT HERE LAST NIGHT. REPORTER: ROBERT GRIFFEN LIVES RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AND SAYS THE STREETS LIGHT WEREN’T A FACTOR EITHER. >> IT LIGHTS UP ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN SEE ACROSS THE STREET. REPORTER: OTHER NEIGHBORS TELL ME KRAUSE EVEN HAD FLASHING LIGHTS ON HIM. >> IT HURTS. IT HURTS BAD. REPORTER: NOW HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FANS ARE HOPING HE’S ABLE TO PULL THROUGH. >> HE LOVED ENTERTAINING PEO

A bicyclist died days after he was hit by a police officer's vehicle in northwest Oklahoma City.Shortly before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, a police officer was driving west in the outside lane of Hefner Road near Dorothy Drive when his vehicle collided with a bicycle, according to a news release. The bicyclist, identified as 47-year-old Max Krause, was taken to an area hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. The victim's father, whose name is also Max Krause, told KOCO 5 his son had a stroke and doctors removed the breathing tube Friday night. He was later pronounced dead.Max Krause said his son was a beloved magician and performer."I feel helpless, absolutely helpless," the elder Krause said. "I'm just stunned."His son suffered severe damage to his spine."If he does pull through it, he'll never talk again," the father said. "He'll be paralyzed from the neck down." Police are investigating the incident and said speed does not appear to have been a factor."He loved entertaining people. That was his life," the victim's father said.The officer, who has 2 1/2 years of experience with the Oklahoma City Police Department, has been placed on paid administrative leave.

OKLAHOMA CITY —

A bicyclist died days after he was hit by a police officer's vehicle in northwest Oklahoma City.

Shortly before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, a police officer was driving west in the outside lane of Hefner Road near Dorothy Drive when his vehicle collided with a bicycle, according to a news release. The bicyclist, identified as 47-year-old Max Krause, was taken to an area hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

The victim's father, whose name is also Max Krause, told KOCO 5 his son had a stroke and doctors removed the breathing tube Friday night. He was later pronounced dead.

Max Krause said his son was a beloved magician and performer.

"I feel helpless, absolutely helpless," the elder Krause said. "I'm just stunned."

His son suffered severe damage to his spine.

"If he does pull through it, he'll never talk again," the father said. "He'll be paralyzed from the neck down."

Police are investigating the incident and said speed does not appear to have been a factor.

"He loved entertaining people. That was his life," the victim's father said.

The officer, who has 2 1/2 years of experience with the Oklahoma City Police Department, has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Bicyclist dies after being hit by police car in northwest Oklahoma City

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