By Mindy Ragan Wood
Staff Writer
A man who is charged in the deaths of two teens last year was in court Tuesday to enter his plea in Canadian County District Court.
Christopher David Cochlin, 48, of Piedmont, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter charges. A trial date has been set for February 4.
Best friends Sean Tucker and Luke Ross were stopped at an intersection at NW 150th and North Mustang Road when Cochlin hit them in his car December 16. Cochlin was driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, accident investigators said. Both vehicles burst into flames and first responders found Tucker and Ross dead at the scene. Cochlin recovered from his injuries.
The two young men were home from college during Christmas break. They were graduates of Southwest Covenant in Yukon.
Police reported that Cochlin appeared to be intoxicated at the time. A blood test proved Cochlin was driving drunk with an alcohol level more than twice the legal limit.
Cochlin was denied bail in February after prosecutors argued he was a threat to public safety, citing previous DUI arrests. His attorney Scott Adams filed an appeal to overturn the decision but the Court of Criminal Appeals denied the request. He remains in jail without bail.
Tucker’s family is suing Cochlin for more than $100,000 in a wrongful death lawsuit.
