Oklahoma County, Luther deputies tried to save officer trapped beneath car

BY ROBERT MEDLEY

Published: December 4, 2008

JONES — When Oklahoma County sheriff's deputies and a Luther police officer went out on a report of a man trapped beneath a car Tuesday night, they didn't realize the victim was a fellow lawman.

Lt. Kelly Ray. Photo provided

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Having worked law enforcement in eastern parts of the county, the officers knew Jones police Lt. Kenny Ray. But they did not know until they arrived at his house that it was Ray beneath that car, Jones police officer Joe Bradley said.

Sheriff's deputies Jared McCord, 32, and Jeff Marshall, 42, didn't hesitate to lift the car, Bradley said. Luther police officer Chris Hawkins had enough space to pull Ray from beneath the car, which weighed more than 2,000 pounds. Then they began trying to revive him, Bradley said.

“Jared and Jeff are pretty big boys and they did what they needed to do,” Bradley said. “And they did all that before they knew it was a police officer. But when the other officer from Luther pulled him out they knew exactly who it was. At the time he was under the car it didn't make a difference, they just knew there was a person there who needed their help. ”

Ray was pronounced dead after being flown by medical helicopter to OU Medical Center.

Bradley had known Ray for 17 years and Ray, Bradley said, was known as a police officer who didn't give up easily on any case or job he took on.

Ray, who was 63, served 20 years on the Jones police force and opted not to retire because he loved his job too much, Bradley said.

When Ray's daughter's car would not start on Tuesday, Ray used a floor jack and a smaller crank jack to lift the car enough to crawl under it to work on it. The car was parked on the grass on a slight incline that tilted to the passenger side, said Mark Myers, Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office spokesman.

Myers said the smaller jack apparently slipped and the Saturn trapped Ray about 5 p.m. when it landed on his chest with his head beneath the car and his legs sticking out.

“Right now investigators do believe the wind might have played a role in his death because the wind was blowing pretty strong last night and it might have pushed the car enough to push it off one of the jacks,” Myers said Wednesday.

Myers said the deputies and Luther officer went to the home in the 17000 block of First Gravel Road after Ray's wife called 911. The deputies got on the front and back ends of the car and lifted it enough that Hawkins could pull Ray out, Meyers said.

“If you think about it that is an amazing feat because that is a front-wheel drive vehicle and a lot of the weight of the car is in the front with the engine and axle,” Myers said. “I don't know if it was just from adrenalin or pure strength, but they were able to lift it up several inches so he could be pulled out from underneath.”

Bradley said Ray will be greatly missed.

“He loved coming in to work every day and he loved his wife and daughters,” Bradley said.

Ray had a daughter in high school and another in elementary school. The family attends Jones Assembly of God Church. Bradley said he regularly hunted and fished with Ray.

Ray could have retired a month ago but chose to keep working, Bradley said.

“He loves his job and he loved the people of Jones,” Bradley said.