Lawton man to serve 10 years for 2022 wreck that killed his girlfriend

A 23-year-old Lawton man pleaded guilty Tuesday to causing the May 2022 wreck that killed his girlfriend.

Tyler Cole Taylor entered his guilty pleas Tuesday in Comanche County District Court to felony charges of first-degree manslaughter and causing an accident without a valid driver’s license with grave bodily injuries, as well as a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving.

Chief District Judge Grant Sheperd sentenced Taylor to 15 years with the Department of Corrections with 10 years to serve and five years suspended for the manslaughter charge. Due to the nature of the charge, he will have to serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Taylor also received five years to serve concurrently for the other felony count, and a $1,000 fine for the misdemeanor charge along with $3,695.08 in fines, court fees and restitution, records show.

The wreck happened shortly before 8:30 p.m. May 13, 2022, in the westbound lanes of Cache Road just off the Interstate 44 exit. While being treated for his injuries, Taylor told police he was driving his girlfriend, Brianna Velasquez, and two other people northbound on Interstate 44 when he got mad at Velasquez for forgetting something and said that’s when he speeded up, according to the probable cause affidavit. He said he made the Cache Road exit doing around 70 mph in the 45-mph zone, lost control and rolled his vehicle.

During the rollover, Velasquez was ejected and sustained serious injuries to her torso and head and was taken to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City where she died. Another passenger suffered a broken elbow, according to the affidavit.

At the time of the wreck, Taylor did not have a valid driver’s license.

Taylor was held on $100,000 bond following his initial court appearance on May 17, 2022. Following a bond reduction hearing, he had been free on $70,000 bond since June 13, 2022, and on Jan. 9, he received another reduction of bond to $15,000 to allow him to attend inpatient rehab, according to records. He receives credit for time served.