Man Involved In Fatal Traffic Accident Sentenced

Thursday, May 3rd 2007, 5:20 pm

By: News On 6

A man involved in an accident that killed an Owasso teenager is sentenced Thursday, and that ends a family's nine month search for justice, although, not the way they would have liked. David Olinghouse was sentenced to the maximum for the role he played in an accident that killed 18-year-old Michael Phillips, but the News On 6's Ashli Sims reports that maximum sentence is only a year behind bars.

One minute an 18-year-old was full of promise, getting ready to start his adult life, and in an instant, his life was taken away.

"I got to see his left hand, and I knew it was him," said Michael Phillipsâ€™ mother Debbie Phillips.

In their grief, Debbie and Ed Phillips looked to the law to at least hold the man who crashed into their son, responsible for his death.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol records show Olinghouse was driving more than 100 miles per hour at the time of the crash, and he had a half-open bottle of liquor in the car.

They expected Olinghouse to be charged with manslaughter, but tests found Olinghouse was not legally drunk, so he was charged with misdemeanor negligent homicide.

The Phillipsâ€™ were shocked.

"This doesnâ€™t indicate what he was responsible for what he did," said Michael Phillipsâ€™ father Ed Phillips.

Then the Phillipsâ€™ say they were dealt another blow in January. The same man who was involved in the accident that killed their son was arrested for drunk driving in Tulsa.

"Within less than six months later to have another DUI while travelling at a high rate of speed I am just stunned," said Debbie Phillips.

The Phillips' refused to give up, bouncing from courtroom to courtroom in Tulsa and Washington Counties.

In April, a Tulsa judge heard about Olinghouse's negligent homicide case. The judge revoked his DUI bond and sent him to jail.

Olinghouse will serve the sentences concurrently in the Washington County jail.

Watch the video: Maximum Sentenced Handed Down In Deadly Accident

Related stories:

7/8/2006 - Owasso Teen Dies In Washington County Accident

7/12/2006 - Funeral Held For An Owasso Teen Involved In A Traffic Accident On Saturday

11/28/2006 - Parents Plea For Justice

4/11/2007 - Suspect In Fatal Traffic Accident Is Re-Arrested