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Despite the severity of the accident, prosecutors said Binney left the scene before emergency personnel arrived.

According to investigators, he fled on foot and later obtained another vehicle from a nearby business before leaving the area. Authorities eventually located and arrested him in the city of Checotah, approximately 50 miles away.

His decision to leave the crash scene became a central issue in the prosecution’s case.

Family Pleads for Leniency in Fatal Accident Case

During sentencing, Brittany Binney urged the court to show mercy to her husband, arguing that the tragedy had already devastated the family.

She told the court that her husband had been deeply affected by the loss of their daughter and would carry that burden for the rest of his life.

Brittany also expressed concern about the impact her husband being in prison

would have on their surviving children.

“They have already suffered the unimaginable loss of their sister,” she said. “If their father is removed from their lives through a lengthy incarceration, they will experience another profound loss.”

Judge Sides with Prosecutors

Although family members sought leniency, prosecutors recommended a prison sentence ranging from two to five years.

Kunzweiler acknowledged that criminal cases sometimes place prosecutors at odds with the wishes of victims and family members.

“Sometimes criminal cases are like that — where a victim may prefer one outcome, and I have to take a position inconsistent with the victim's desires,” he said.

Ultimately, the judge imposed the maximum sentence requested by prosecutors, ordering Binney to serve five years in prison.

The case serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences that reckless driving, poor decision-making, and fleeing an accident scene can have on families and communities.

Related Links

• Oklahoma Highway Safety Office
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• Bixby Police Department
• Tulsa County District Attorney's Office