- Elliott Lincoln Binney pleaded guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene after causing a fatal crash that killed his daughter.
- Witnesses reported Binney was speeding in poor weather when he lost control of the vehicle.
- Binney fled the scene on foot, leaving his injured family members behind, and was later apprehended 50 miles away.
BIXBY, OKLAHOMA — Elliott Lincoln Binney, a 43-year-old father, is headed to prison after causing a fatal crash that claimed the life of his teenage daughter. Binney pleaded guilty Friday to several charges, including first-degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal accident, following the January 2024 incident.
Elliott Lincoln Binney admitted to police that he took a "gulp" of vodka just moments before his vehicle flipped on a rain-slicked road.
A Reckless Act and a Fatal Flight
The tragedy occurred when Elliott Lincoln Binney attempted to pass other vehicles at a high rate of speed in poor weather. Witnesses reported seeing him cross into a no-passing zone before he lost control of the car. The vehicle rolled over, ejecting 16-year-old Shelby Binney from the car. While his wife and two other children remained trapped inside, Binney chose to flee the scene on foot.
Investigators found an open bottle of vodka at the crash site, and Elliott Lincoln Binney was later tracked down nearly 50 miles away in Checotah.
The Legal Consequences
During the court proceedings, District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler highlighted the cold nature of the crime. He noted that Elliott Lincoln Binney did not stay to help his family, but instead retrieved another vehicle from a nearby business to escape the area. Under the plea agreement, Binney faces years in a state correctional facility for the neglect and death of his child.
Elliott Lincoln Binney was immediately taken into custody after his plea and is currently awaiting his formal sentencing on June 8.
Justice for Shelby Binney
The community has closely followed the case, mourning the loss of the high school student. Prosecutors emphasized that no one—not even a parent—can act with such reckless disregard for human life without facing the law. Shelby Binney’s mother and siblings were treated for their injuries, but the family now faces the long-term emotional fallout of the crash.
For more on this fatal rollover and other cases of parental neglect, check out our video here:
