Arrest Warrant Issued For Driver Who Hit, Killed Elderly Tulsa Couple

The family of an elderly couple killed by a speeding driver is one step closer to justice.

Tulsa police say the driver was going more than twice the speed limit just seconds before he hit the couple’s car.

Investigators say the District Attorney and a judge signed off on a warrant for the driver, who was going 85 miles per hour in a 40 mile-per-hour zone.

“It’s been tough.  You can’t replace the two of them.  I mean, they do so much.  The saying at Parkview Baptist Church, the church they went to, is ‘If anything is wrong, call John and Bonita,’” said the couple’s son, Richard Watts.  “They were the definition of what a married couple should be.  They were always arm in arm.”

Wednesday marks two months since John and Bonita Watts were hit by a driver while pulling out onto 61st Street between Sheridan and Memorial – a neighborhood they had lived in for 30 years.

“They were used to that traffic,” said Watts.  “They pulled out there every day.”

Bonita died the next day.  John died several days later.

His son says “he was very outgoing, he would help anybody.”

Police say the other driver, Deante Hilburn, was flying down the hill at 85 miles per hour.

“It’s egregious, it’s unbelievable, especially in that part of 61st, that’s where you’re coming down the hill,” said Corporal Brian Collum.

Corporal Collum says the couple had every right to pull out when they did.

“The average reaction time is 1.6 seconds, and he didn’t have that,” Collum said.  “Had the other vehicle been doing the speed limit, there wouldn’t have been a collision at all.”

Hilburn was also hurt, but police say he will face two misdemeanor negligent homicide charges.

“We have not located him yet,” said Collum.  “We don’t know if he’s still in the hospital, and we have three or four different addresses.  So, as soon as we locate him, we’ll take him into custody and he’ll have his day in court.”

“I mean, I hope they find him,” said Watts.  “Justice needs to be served.”