OKC Thunder co-owner Aubrey McClendon "tapped the brakes" several times before his SUV crashed into a bridge ... but cops say they aren't clear if that means he WASN'T trying to kill himself.
56-year-old McClendon died in the March 2nd accident -- after hitting Oklahoma City bridge at such a high rate of speed, his SUV exploded in flames almost immediately.
In a news conference in OKC moments ago, officials say McClendon's car was going 88 mph 5 seconds before impact ... and 78 mph at the moment of the crash.
Cops say McClendon tapped his brakes several times during the final 5 seconds -- but cops aren't considering it "breakage" because he stopped touching the brakes 31 feet from the wall.