Bicyclist struck, killed deliberately, police say

A Lawton man is being held on $250,000 bond for allegations he’d used fentanyl before driving, causing the death of a bicyclist on Dec. 22, 2023.

Mark Cochran’s death was identified as the city’s 17th by homicide for the year and police believe it was caused deliberately.

Vincent Joseph Sayers, 26, made his initial appearance in Comanche County District Court on Dec. 28, 2023 where he received felony charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a fatality accident, records indicate. The murder count is punishable by between 10 years to life in prison.

The investigation began around 3:30 p.m. Dec. 22, 2023, after police were called to Northwest 50th Street and Cache Road regarding a vehicle hitting a pedestrian. Witnesses said Cochran was riding his bicycle westbound on Cache Road when a silver van intentionally struck him before fleeing north on Northwest 50th Street, the probable cause affidavit states. Cochran said it was Sayers who struck him. He was later flown to OU Medical in Oklahoma City where he later died.

Police found the van parked at Sayers’ home and he and others at the home were taken in for interviews.

Sayers’ girlfriend told police they were going to Walmart when Sayers struck Cochran before turning north and going to the EZ GO at Northwest 52nd Street and Rogers Lane, Detective Justin Johnson stated. She said Sayers didn’t say a word after the incident, the affidavit states.

Sayers admitted to using fentanyl before driving the van. He said he “snapped out of it” and was coming out of a ditch and back onto the road and that it was an “accident” and “he didn’t mean to hit the person,” according to the affidavit. He said he went home afterward and didn’t leave, Johnson stated.

Security video from Braum’s, 4435 Cache Road, showed the van stop at the intersection, wait for Cochran on his bicycle before accelerating toward Cochran and colliding into him before running him over and leaving, the affidavit states.

Sayers was scheduled for a judgment and sentencing hearing on May 10, 2023, for misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle while under the influence of illegal drugs and obstructing police filed in December 2020. Records indicate he was arrested Dec. 4, 2023, and released that day on $1,000 own recognizance bon with the hearing rescheduled for 1:15 p.m. Jan. 29.

A preliminary hearing conference for the felony charges is slated for 3 p.m. Jan. 22, records indicate.