CJ-2026-630 - Kelly Watson v. Nathan Chancler

What's This Case About?

Let’s get one thing straight: this is not your average fender-bender. This is a full-on bicycle vs. runaway gas company truck showdown, complete with a driver who hit a cyclist, kept driving, and had to be chased down by a civilian vigilante through two stoplights and “numerous turns” like he was in a low-budget action movie. Yes, really. A random Good Samaritan played detective, tailed the suspect like a man possessed, and forced him to come back to the scene—because apparently, fleeing the aftermath of hitting someone on a bike just wasn’t dramatic enough on its own.

Meet Kelly Watson, a resident of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, who on February 25, 2024, decided to enjoy a perfectly legal, completely reasonable bike ride. She was cruising northbound on S. 113th Ave. W., minding her own business, when she signaled her intention to make a left turn onto W. 32nd St. All textbook. Meanwhile, entering the scene like a human embodiment of bad decisions, we have Nathan Chancler—also of Sand Springs—driving east on W. 32nd St., approaching a stop sign that, according to the universe’s basic traffic laws, he was supposed to stop at. But did he? Nope. He blew right through it. And not in a “oops, I rolled through” kind of way. We’re talking full-on failure to stop, reckless disregard, physics-defying collision energy. His vehicle plowed into Kelly Watson mid-turn, launching her off her bike and onto the pavement like she’d been ejected from a malfunctioning carnival ride.

Now, if you’re thinking, “Surely he stopped to check if she was alive,” congratulations—you have basic human decency. Nathan Chancler, however, does not appear to share that instinct. Instead of rendering aid, calling 911, or even just yelling “You good?!” like a normal person, he floored it and fled the scene. That’s right. He hit a cyclist, caused a violent crash, and then chose the hit-and-run path. But fate had other plans. A witness—bless their soul, probably sipping coffee and minding their own business—saw the whole thing go down. And instead of just calling the cops, this real-life hero got in their car and chased him. Through intersections. Through traffic lights. Through who-knows-how-many turns. This isn’t a scene from Cops—this is a civilian conducting a citizen’s arrest in real time, all because the driver couldn’t be bothered to do the bare minimum of human responsibility.

Eventually, the witness caught up with Chancler, confronted him, and made him go back. When Officer Lindamood of the Sand Springs Police arrived, the conclusion was clear: Chancler had, in fact, been fleeing. And not just fleeing—violating multiple city ordinances and state traffic laws, including reckless driving, failure to obey a stop sign, failure to stop at a nonfatal injury accident (because yes, that’s a law), and operating a vehicle without full attention. In other words, he committed approximately every traffic sin in the book, all in one go.

But here’s where it gets juicier. Kelly Watson isn’t just suing Chancler. Oh no. She’s dragging not one, not two, but three defendants into this mess: Nathan Chancler, El Paso Natural Gas Co., and Kinder Morgan, Inc. Why? Because she believes—reasonably, we might add—that Chancler wasn’t just joyriding in some random truck. She believes he was driving a vehicle owned by one of these energy giants, and that he was on the job at the time. That means, under a legal concept called respondeat superior, the company could be on the hook for his actions. It’s the old “you break it, you bought it”—except here, it’s “your employee wrecks a cyclist while driving your company truck, and now your billion-dollar corporation has to pay.”

And pay, she wants them to. Kelly Watson is asking for $150,000 in total damages—half in actual compensatory damages (for medical bills, pain, lost wages, permanent injuries, emotional trauma, ruined shoes, and yes, her destroyed bicycle), and half in punitive damages. That’s the legal equivalent of a slap on the wrist with a financial glove—meant to punish particularly awful behavior. And let’s be real: fleeing the scene of an accident where you’ve just sent a cyclist flying like a ragdoll? That’s punitive damage territory.

Now, is $150,000 a lot? For an individual, sure. But for El Paso Natural Gas or Kinder Morgan—two massive energy corporations that move enough natural gas to heat entire states—it’s basically a rounding error. This isn’t about bankrupting anyone. It’s about accountability. It’s about saying, “Hey, if you’re going to put people behind the wheel of your vehicles, maybe make sure they know how to drive and not flee crime scenes like they’re in a Grand Theft Auto cutscene.”

The injuries Watson suffered are no joke. We’re talking about a ruptured ligament, a torn TFCC in her right wrist (which required surgery), permanent loss of strength and function in her hand, emotional distress, and legitimate concerns about her future ability to work. This wasn’t a scrape and a bruise. This was life-altering. And all because one guy decided that a stop sign was more of a suggestion and human safety was someone else’s problem.

So what’s the most absurd part of this whole saga? Is it the hit-and-run? The civilian chase? The fact that a gas company employee might’ve been driving a company vehicle like he was auditioning for Fast & Furious: Sand Springs Drift? Honestly, it’s the audacity. The sheer nerve of someone to cause a violent collision, injure another human being, and then just… keep going. No remorse. No pause. No “maybe I should check if she’s breathing.” And the fact that it took a stranger with a car and a conscience to bring him back? That’s not just negligence. That’s a moral failure wrapped in a traffic violation.

We’re not rooting for blood. But we are rooting for justice. We’re rooting for Kelly Watson to get every penny she’s owed—not just for the medical bills and the ruined bike, but for the sheer indignity of being treated like roadkill by someone who thought he could just drive away from consequences. And we’re rooting for a verdict that sends a message: in Oklahoma, in Sand Springs, on any street with a stop sign, you stop. Especially when you’ve just turned a cyclist into a projectile. Because next time, the witness might not chase. The officer might not show up. And the victim might not walk away at all.

This isn’t just a civil case. It’s a public service announcement with a price tag. And if $150,000 teaches a gas company to vet its drivers better, or makes one reckless employee think twice before flooring it after a crash? Then it’s worth every penny.

(We’re entertainers, not lawyers. But even we know: stop at the stop sign. It’s not that hard.)

Case Overview

$150,000 Demand Jury Trial Petition

Jurisdiction

District Court, Oklahoma

Filing Attorney

Coleman C. Bandy

Jack G. Zurawik, P.C.

Relief Sought

$75,000 Monetary

$75,000 Punitive

Plaintiffs

Kelly Watson individual
Rep: Coleman C. Bandy and Jack G. Zurawik of Jack G. Zurawik, P.C.

Defendants

Nathan Chancler individual
El Paso Natural Gas Co. business
El Paso Natural Gas Co., L.L.C. business
Kinder Morgan, Inc. business

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	Negligence	Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Chancler negligently and recklessly operated a vehicle, causing a collision that resulted in injuries to Plaintiff.

Petition Text

1,335 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TULSA COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA KELLY WATSON, an individual, Plaintiff, v. NATHAN CHANCLER, an individual, EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO. and/or EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO., L.L.C., a foreign limited liability company, and KINDER MORGAN, INC., a foreign for-profit business corporation, Defendants. PETITION COMES NOW, the Plaintiff, KELLY WATSON, by and through her counsel, Jack G. Zurawik and Coleman C. Bandy of Jack G. Zurawik, P.C., who alleges and states in support of this Petition for damages against the Defendants—NATHAN CHANCLER, an individual, EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO. and/or EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO., L.L.C., a foreign limited liability company, and KINDER MORGAN, INC., a foreign for-profit business corporation—as follows: PARTIES 1. That Plaintiff KELLY WATSON (hereinafter referred to as "KW") is and was a resident of the City of Sand Springs, Tulsa County, State of Oklahoma at all material times hereto. 2. That Defendant NATHAN CHANCLER (hereinafter referred to as "NC") was a resident of the City of Sand Springs, Tulsa County, State of Oklahoma at all material times hereto. 3. That Defendant EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO. and/or EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO., L.L.C. (hereinafter referred to as "EPNG") is and was a foreign limited liability company authorized to conduct business in the State of Oklahoma and doing business in the State of Oklahoma at all material times hereto. 4. That Defendant KINDER MORGAN, INC. (hereinafter referred to as “KM”) is and was a foreign for-profit business corporation authorized to conduct business in the State of Oklahoma and doing business in the State of Oklahoma at all material times hereto. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 5. Plaintiff readopts, realleges and reasserts allegations one – four (1-4) above. 6. That the collision which is the subject matter of this action occurred in the City of Sand Springs, Tulsa County, State of Oklahoma. 7. That Plaintiff KW sustained injuries and damages in the collision. 8. That as a result of the above, this Court has jurisdiction and venue over this matter under 12 O.S. §141. CAUSE OF ACTION 9. Plaintiff readopts, realleges and reasserts allegations one – eight (1-8) above. 10. That on or about February 25, 2024, Plaintiff KW was riding her bicycle on northbound S. 113th Ave. W. in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. 11. That Plaintiff KW was turning left onto W. 32nd St. 12. That Plaintiff KW provided proper hand signals indicating her intention to turn left onto W. 32nd St. 13. That at the same time, Defendant NC was traveling east on W. 32nd St. and approaching the stop sign at its intersection with S. 113th Ave. W. 14. That Defendant NC was intending to turn left onto northbound S. 113th Avenue W. 15. That Plaintiff KW was executing her left turn onto W. 32nd St. when Defendant NC negligently and recklessly failed to stop at the stop sign, causing a collision between the truck he was operating and Plaintiff KW. Approximate location of the collision is marked with a 'star' 16. That the impact launched Plaintiff KW off her bicycle and onto the ground, causing her serious and debilitating physical and emotional injuries. 17. That Defendant NC fled the scene of the collision and continued onto S. 113th Ave. W. 18. That a witness saw the collision and followed Defendant NC "through two streetlights and numerous turns" before catching up to him and "mak[ing] [him] return to the scene." 19. That Officer Lindamood of the Sand Springs Police Department determined that Defendant NC "was fleeing the scene." 20. That Defendant NC negligently and recklessly operated the vehicle he was driving at the time of the collision; those negligent and reckless acts and/or omissions include but are not limited to: • Failing to slow down his vehicle in a timely manner; • Driving inattentively; • Traveling in a speed in excess of the circumstances and conditions of the roadway. 21. That Defendant NC’s negligent and reckless acts and/or omissions regarding this collision caused the vehicle he was operating to severely crash into Plaintiff KW and the bicycle she was operating. 22. That with respect to the subject collision, Defendant NC violated, at a minimum, the following City Ordinances for the City of Sand Springs, Oklahoma: a. §10.08.014: Disorderly Conduct with a Motor Vehicle b. §10.16.110: Hazardous or Congested Places—Stopping, Standing, Parking c. §10.32.130: Accident Duty to Stop d. §10.08.010: Adoption of State Traffic Code, including violations of at least the following Oklahoma Statutes: i. 47 O.S. §10-102: Failure to Stop – Nonfatal Injury Accidents ii. 47 O.S. §11-201: Obedience to Required Traffic-Control Devices iii. 47 O.S. §11-901: Reckless Driving iv. 47 O.S. §11-901b: Full Time & Attention to Driving 23. That the statutory violations committed by Defendant NC with respect for this incident constitute negligence per se under Oklahoma law. 24. That Defendant NC’s negligent and reckless driving caused injuries to and harmed Plaintiff KW, directly resulting in significant physical and emotional injuries. 25. That it is the belief of Plaintiff KW that Defendant NC was operating a motor vehicle owned by Defendant(s) EPNG and/or KM, individually and/or jointly. 26. That it is the belief of Plaintiff KW that Defendant NC was acting in the course and scope of his employment with and/or as an agent of Defendant(s) EPNG and/or Defendant KM—individually and/or jointly—thereby making Defendant(s) EPNG and/or KM—individually and/or jointly—responsible for any and all of the negligent actions or inactions of Defendant NC by operation of law. 27. That Defendant(s) EPNG and/or KM—individually and/or jointly—was/were negligent in hiring, retaining, and/or entrusting their vehicle to Defendant NC on the date of the subject collision. 28. That as a result of Defendants’ negligent and reckless actions and/or inactions—individually, vicariously, and/or jointly—in causing this collision, Plaintiff KW has suffered physical and emotional injuries, including but not limited to: a. Injuries to the fingers of the right hand; b. Injuries to the right hand with permanent loss of strength and function; c. Injuries to the right wrist; d. A ruptured collateral ligament; e. A triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tear necessitating surgery to the right hand and wrist area; f. Emotional distress; and g. Functional limitations creating concern about her future employability. 29. That as a result of Defendants’ negligent and reckless actions and/or inactions—individually, vicariously, and/or jointly—in causing this collision, Plaintiff KW has suffered the following damages: a. Physical pain and suffering, past and future; b. Mental pain and suffering, past and future; c. Emotional distress; d. Disfigurement; e. Permanent injuries; f. Loss of earnings, past and future; g. Diminished earning capacity; h. Loss of enjoyment of life; i. Property damage; j. Medical costs for care, treatment, and service, past and future; k. Punitive damages; and l. Any and all other damages that this Court deems proper and reasonable, based on the evidence submitted at the time of trial. 30. That as a result of this collision, Plaintiff KW’s personal property suffered significant property damage for which Defendants are individually and/or jointly liable, including but not limited to property damage to Plaintiff KW’s bicycle and shoes. 31. That at the time of this collision, the actions and/or inactions of Defendants NC, EPNG, and KM—individually and/or jointly—show a disregard and indifference to the safety of travelers on the Oklahoma roadways sufficient to warrant the imposition of punitive damages against them. 32. The recoverable damages for personal injuries suffered by Plaintiff KW, as defined by Oklahoma law, are in excess of $75,000.00. WHEREFORE, premises considered, Plaintiff KW prays for a judgment against the Defendants—individually and/or jointly—in an amount in excess of $75,000.00 for actual damages, property damage, and for an amount in excess of $75,000.00 for punitive damages together with court costs, attorney fees, pre- and post-judgment interest, as well as any other relief this court deems just and proper. Respectfully submitted, Coleman C. Bandy, OBA No. 36034 Jack G. Zurawik, OBA No. 11588 ZURAWIK LAW FIRM P.O. Box 35346 Tulsa, OK 74153 Phone: (918) 664-1113 Fax: (918) 622-2752 coleman.a.zurawik.lawyer jack.a.zurawik.lawyer Attorneys for Plaintiff