Tulsa Family Seeks Answers After Man's Death In Crash

A Tulsa family is looking for answers after a man was killed in a car crash in downtown Tulsa earlier this month.

Troopers said Alonzo Striplin was a passenger in a pickup truck when the crash happened at I-244 and Greenwood.

The other driver involved was killed also.

Family said Alonzo Striplin turned 42 just hours before he died.

As they now have to face Christmas without him, they’re urging people on the roads to be careful.

Heather Striplin said her cousin Alonzo was someone who could be friends with anybody.

“He had a charismatic personality," Striplin said. 

She remembers Alonzo as an older cousin, always making her feel included.

He played basketball and had a talent for drawing.

“He didn’t meet a stranger, and being an artist above his time, he was customizing shoes people would pay thousands for now," Heather said.

Alonzo was a passenger in the car with his friend Jonathan Sayles around 2 a.m. Dec. 2nd when troopers said he got into a crash with another driver, Robert Dishong, who died.

Sayles had several broken bones but survived. Alonzo did not.

“We lost our cousin 2 hours after his 42nd birthday," said Heather.

Heather said the family has been trying to piece together details but are desperate for more information.

"Christmas is next week," she said. "I'm hoping for a Christmas gift to our family that the report is done.”

She said she will do everything in her family’s power to keep Alonzo’s memory alive.

She hopes this serves as a reminder for others to be mindful on the roads, especially now.

"Spend the time with your family versus rushing to them. If you don’t make it, they’ll be spending the time grieving you," she said. 

“Tell everyone you love them, see them, be around them, hug them.”

Troopers said they're still investigating the cause of the crash.