Families Grieving Over Sons' Deaths

By Lori Fullbright, News On 6

Owasso, OK -- Two Green Country families are grieving, after their sons were killed in a car crash in Noel, Missouri, last month. The man who was driving survived, but police say his driver's license was revoked and they're investigating whether he was drunk.

Aaron Gillming and John Lackey died when the driver, Ricky Crase, slammed into a bridge. Gillming's family says based on Crase's past record, he should never have been behind the wheel.

Aaron Gillming loved riding motorcycles and won a lot of trophies as number 32. When his son, Ryder was born, he got his own mini-version with the same number. Aaron's mother says he also loved taking Ryder fishing.

"Now, Ryder talks to his daddy in heaven every night. He asked me last night, ‘Mimi, are there fishing holes in heaven? Do you think daddy is fishing in heaven?' I told him, yes, Daddy is fishing in heaven Ryder," said Brenda Montgomery.

Aaron and John Lackey and Ricky Crase, all from Collinsville, had gone rafting in Missouri, Labor Day weekend. They were headed home Sunday evening when police say Crase lost control and slammed into a bridge. Only Crase survived.

Officers found a beer can and empty cooler nearby although rescuers did not smell alcohol on Crase's breath. Police say they are waiting on blood test results before filing charges.

"I'm so grief stricken. I'm consumed with grief. My whole body is shaking and my heart, I don't even know how it's beating, I don't," said Montgomery.

Montgomery was angry to find out Crase had previous offenses. She believes if something had been done then, her son would be alive now.

Records show Crase pleaded guilty to impaired driving in Tulsa County in 1996, and got probation. In 2000, in Rogers County, he was caught driving with a revoked license and got a fine.

In 2006, in Tulsa County, he pleaded guilty to DUI and speeding, was given a suspended sentence and ordered to have an alcohol assessment. Later that year, after getting a deferred sentence for arson, he was once again ordered to have an alcohol assessment.

In 2007, in Rogers County, he pleaded guilty to DUI and driving with an open container, got another suspended sentence and yet another alcohol assessment.

"Something needs to be done to keep these people off the streets. They're killing people," said Montgomery.

A called placed to Ricky Crase was never returned.

Police in Noel, Missouri say if Crase's blood shows he was intoxicated, he'll face two charges of manslaughter. If not, he'll still face some charge, because he was driving with a revoked license.

A fund has been set up in Braden Ryder Gillming's name at Bank of America.