Suspected Drunk Driver Crashes Car With 2 Kids Inside In OKC

An Oklahoma City man suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol crashed his car with two children inside, after leading an officer on a pursuit Thursday.

According to Oklahoma City police, at about 6 p.m. Thursday, an officer was traveling southbound on S. Western at I-40, when he noticed a car weaving in and out of traffic without signaling.

The officer attempted to make a traffic stop. However, police say the driver did not stop and led the officer on a pursuit.

The car attempted to avoid hitting another vehicle at the stop light at S.W. 25th Street and S. Western. It then hit the curb sideways, took down a street sign, and demolished a concrete bus stop bench, according to police.

As the officer approached the car, the driver, later identified as 27-year-old Richard Goodbear IV, appeared to be trying to start the vehicle and put it in gear.

There were two small children in the back seat and a woman in the passenger seat of the car. For fear that Goodbear may start the vehicle again and cause more harm, police say the officer pulled him out of the car and placed him in the back seat of his patrol car.

When the officer returned to his patrol car to speak to Goodbear, he said there was a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage in the car, and Goodbear's speech was slurred and his eyes were very red and watery.

The female passenger and the children were released, after police say the woman claimed Goodbear wouldn't stop when she told him to, and that she was not a willing participant in the incident.

Goodbear was transported to the Oklahoma County Jail on several charges, including attempting to elude officer, child endangerment, DUI-alcohol, driving under suspension, and changing lanes unsafely. He also had five warrants out of Canadian County for his arrest.