Police say a rope snapped during a late-night tow, stopping the sled in the road before a second car struck the rider.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Two drivers were jailed on second-degree murder and aggravated DUI complaints after a 31-year-old mother, identified by authorities as Makayla Mitchell, was killed late Jan. 25 when a sled being towed by a car stopped in the roadway and she was hit by another vehicle, police said.
Investigators say the case is in its early stages as blood toxicology results are reviewed and prosecutors assess formal charges. The drivers, 22-year-old Angel Walzier and 24-year-old James Kirk, were arrested after officers reported signs of impairment at the scene and ordered mandatory blood draws. Mitchell’s death came as the region dug out from a winter storm that coated neighborhoods and roads, drawing people to improvised sledding spots across the city. The immediate questions now center on how fast the cars were moving, whether alcohol or drugs played a role, and what legal consequences the two men could face as police finalize reports for district attorneys.
Police said the incident started around 11 p.m. near North Walker Avenue around Northwest 82nd Street, where a sedan driven by Walzier pulled a sled behind it with a rope. When the rope broke, the sled came to rest in the traffic lane. Moments later, a second vehicle driven by Kirk struck Mitchell. She was pronounced dead at the scene by responding medical personnel. Officers said both men showed signs of impairment and were detained for evaluation by a drug-recognition officer. “It’s a heartbreaking chain of events,” an Oklahoma City police spokesperson said, noting that detectives collected rope fragments, dashcam and exterior security video from nearby homes, and skid measurements overnight.
Walzier and Kirk were arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and aggravated DUI. Jail records show Kirk also faces a child endangerment count tied to a passenger in his vehicle. Authorities said both drivers submitted to blood draws under Oklahoma’s implied-consent law; results have not yet been released. Police did not provide estimated speeds and said crash reconstruction is underway. Investigators marked the roadway and photographed debris, rope fibers and scuff patterns to determine distances and line of sight. Officials did not detail lighting conditions beyond describing the corridor as “dark” with patches of residual ice. It remains unknown who obtained the rope or when it was attached to the vehicle.
Mitchell’s death unfolded during the tail end of a winter blast that brought ice and snow to central Oklahoma. Neighbors said the stretch of North Walker becomes a cut-through after dark, with intermittent street lighting and few parked cars, conditions that can encourage quick driving. Recent winters have produced sporadic sledding incidents tied to vehicles, including a Texas case this week involving teens and a Jeep. Police in Oklahoma City have warned in past storms that towing sleds behind cars is illegal and unsafe because riders have little protection if a rope fails or a driver cannot stop on ice. Friends described Mitchell as devoted to her family and said she often gathered relatives for weekend meals and birthdays.
As of Wednesday, the men remained in the Oklahoma County jail. A judge set Walzier’s bail at $5 million, according to officials familiar with the case. Formal charging decisions will come from the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office after investigators submit full reports and lab findings. Detectives plan to interview additional witnesses and review any phone data tied to the drivers’ movements before impact. If prosecutors file charges, initial court appearances would be scheduled in Oklahoma County District Court, followed by a probable-cause hearing within the next several weeks. Police said they will release the final crash reconstruction once the laboratory returns toxicology data.
Outside the scene Monday, a small memorial of flowers and candles appeared along the curb. “Her spirit was bright,” Mitchell’s sister said in a brief interview, adding that the family is planning services while caring for Mitchell’s young daughter. A neighbor, who heard the impact from a block away, said he came outside to see flashing lights and officers closing the street. “It was silent after the hit,” he said. “Then you heard people screaming.” By midmorning, tire tracks and rope fibers were still visible in the slush as city crews salted the intersection.
Police say the investigation continues this week, with toxicology results pending and prosecutors expected to announce charging decisions after lab reports are returned. A court docket update is anticipated in early February.
Author note: Last updated January 29, 2026.