On This Date (May 06) 1990-Officer Michael Ross Okelberry
On This Date (May 06) 1990 a wife lost a husband, a son lost a father, a brother lost a brother, our nation lost an Air Force Veteran, the City of Houston, Texas lost a former Police Officer and Dallas lost a Police Officer.
Police Officer Michael Ross Okelberry, age 28, assigned to the Southeast Patrol Division was killed as a passenger in the rear seat, along with a prisoner being transported to the Lew Sterrett Justice Center in a marked Dallas Police vehicle, driven by his partner Thomas Grady Burchfield which was struck head on in the 800 block Woodall Rogers Freeway by a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction in the westbound traffic lanes.
Officer Burchfield and the driver of the wrong way vehicle, Damaso Diaz Ruiz were also killed in this accident.
Damaso Diaz Ruiz was previously convicted of Driving While Intoxicated. Subsequent investigation disclosed his blood alcohol level was 0.25 per cent at the time of this accident.
Officer Michael Ross Okelberry is interred at Restland Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.