Oklahoma’s Own In Focus: Driver Involved In I-44 Bridge Crash Has History Of Dangerous Driving

News On 6 is taking a closer look at a woman's history of dangerous driving that police say escalated to her forcing another driver off an I-44 bridge.

Investigators say Rashaun Parker knocked Tikera McCall's car off the bridge over the Arkansas River.

McCall's car fell 60 feet and landed upside down in the riverbed, but she was able to crawl out on her own and is expected to recover. Police say the two women had a long-standing feud, and officers arrested Parker for assault with a deadly weapon.

Rashaun Parker has a long list of driving violations and convictions in several counties, and she's currently facing charges of recklessly using a gun. Police say, unfortunately, it's not uncommon to see suspects in cases like these with a history of offenses.

Parker's history includes offenses ranging from speeding to driving with a suspended license. Police say it's difficult to manage drivers who keep breaking laws on the road. 

"It's always frustrating to keep running across repeat offenders; the only thing we can do is just keep stopping them, keep ticketing them or arresting them, but ultimately, it's up to the courts,” said Lieutenant Stephen Florea with the Tulsa Police Department.

He says his unit focuses on traffic violations that involve collisions or injuries, like the terrifying incident Monday when a woman's car was forced off the I-44 bridge and fell into the sandbars of the Arkansas River, the result of apparent road rage. 

"If you take out your frustration and your anger on people out here on the road and you use your vehicle, the likelihood that somebody’s going to be seriously injured or killed are very high. And if somebody gets hurt or killed, you're going to be facing very serious criminal charges," said Florea.

Rashaun Parker now faces a charge of assault with a deadly weapon in that incident. Lieutenant Florea says people often forget how deadly a car can be and are sometimes too quick to make rash decisions behind the wheel.

"They're in an enclosed object; it's more anonymous. That's the situation where they might flip someone off or honk their horn or something like that, but they wouldn't do that if they were standing face to face like you and I are right now," Florea said. 

He urges drivers to take a deep breath and think of the consequences before doing something dangerous.

Parker has posted bond on the assault charge from Monday's incident but is due in court next week for the reckless firearm offense.