Friends Remember Victims Of Deadly Bike Crash

By Craig Day, The News On 6

SAND SPRINGS, OK -- The woman accused of running down and killing two bicyclists has bonded out of the Tulsa County jail.

Tausha Borland posted a $100,000 bond Wednesday evening.  She faces two counts of first-degree manslaughter. 

The OHP trooper who investigated the accident says he detected a very strong odor of alcohol on her moments after the wreck.

The crash killed Christa Voss of Owasso and Matthew Edmonds of Tulsa.  A third cyclist was injured in the crash. 

The wreck happened on Highway 51 near Sand Springs on Tuesday afternoon.  Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers say the three cyclists were riding on the shoulder when Borland's SUV swerved and hit them.

"I knew both the people very well.  Good customers of ours, great friends, so it's been pretty hard on all of us," said Todd Swain.

Todd Swain of Bicycles of Tulsa says both victims, 30-year-old Christa Voss and 34-year-old Matthew Edmonds were members of the Bicycles of Tulsa Road Race team.

"It's hard to take.  It shouldn't happen to anybody, but when it hits this close to home it's even harder," said Todd Swain.

Word of the tragic deaths spread quickly through the cycling community.

"You just kind of hit the floor.  You just don't expect it," said Bret Gunther.

Bret Gunther was a friend of Christa Voss.  He said she was a phenomenal athlete and person whose smile lit up the room.

"Very humble person, always had a wonderful smile.  And, just loved to laugh," Gunther said.

Court records show Borland was charged with driving while under the influence of an intoxicating liquor in early 2007, but pleaded guilty to lesser charge of driving while impaired.  

"It's completely senseless.  It's something that if you just take the time to make the right decision.  We wouldn't be standing here today.  We wouldn't be having this conversation," said victim's friend, Bret Gunther.

The third cyclist was treated and released from a Tulsa hospital.

A group of riders met along the Tulsa riverfront on Tuesday evening for a silent ride to honor the victims of the crash.

And a group called Bicyclists Against Drunk Driving, or BADD, said it is planning to honor the bicyclists on Saturday. 

Beginning at 10 a.m., the group will lead a ride from 15th and Quaker to the scene of the deadly crash at Highway 51 and South 165th West Avenue.

One rider will be pulling a trailer carrying an all-white bicycle.  The "ghost bike" will then be installed at the scene of the crash.  

Ghost bikes have been parked at the sites of deadly bike crashes around the world, but this will be the first ghost bike installation in Oklahoma.