Inset, left to right: Elliott L. Binney (Tulsa County Jail) and Shelby Binney (GoFundMe). Background: The area in Oklahoma where the fatal 2023 crash occurred.
A 43-year-old father from Oklahoma is facing prison time for a tragic rollover crash that resulted in the death of his 16-year-old daughter. The man, who was driving with his wife and three children, fled the scene on foot, leaving his daughter alongside her mother and siblings to fend for themselves.
Elliott Lincoln Binney admitted to consuming vodka just moments before the accident. He has pleaded guilty to charges including first-degree manslaughter, child neglect, leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and having an open container in the vehicle. These charges are connected to the fatality of his daughter, Shelby Binney, as per court documents.
In a plea deal, an additional charge of reckless driving was dismissed. Under the agreement, prosecutors plan to suggest a sentence of two to five years in a state prison, followed by five years of probation, according to a report from Tulsa Fox affiliate KTUL reported.
The incident occurred on January 11, 2024, when Bixby Police and fire personnel responded to a single-car rollover accident near East 171st Street South. They discovered a teenage girl, later identified as Shelby Binney, had been ejected from the vehicle.
First responders found Binney’s wife and two other children still inside the vehicle and arranged for their transport to a hospital for medical care.
Authorities reported that the crash was a result of reckless driving in adverse weather conditions. Binney allegedly attempted to overtake other cars on a rain-slicked road, driving at excessive speeds and entering a no-passing zone before losing control. These details were corroborated by witnesses, as noted in a Kansas City Star report.
Investigators also found an open bottle of vodka at the scene, and Binney later admitted to drinking while driving his family, telling police he took a “gulp” of alcohol moments before the crash, Tulsa NBC affiliate KJRH reported.
Prosecutors said the reckless driving ultimately caused the vehicle to flip, ejecting the teen, who later died from her injuries. Despite the severity of the crash, Binney did not remain at the scene.
“Ultimately, the facts involve him driving very recklessly in bad weather and ultimately resulted in him flipping his vehicle and eject[ing] one of his daughters,” Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler reportedly said. “Mr. Binney didn’t remain at the scene. He fled … leaving his wife and his remaining children in the car.”
Authorities said Binney fled on foot before first responders arrived, later retrieving another vehicle from a nearby business and fleeing the area. He was ultimately tracked down and arrested in Checotah, about 50 miles away.
The case drew significant attention due to the circumstances of the crash and Binney’s actions afterward. Kunzweiler described the case as deeply tragic but said prosecution was necessary.
“You can’t just do those kinds of things to another human being, even if it’s your own child,” he reportedly said.
Binney, who had been out on bond, was immediately remanded into custody as he awaits his sentencing hearing, which is currently scheduled for June 8.
