Teen Sentenced In Fatal 2012 Butler Co. Crash
BUTLER, Pa. (KDKA) -- A teenager who was behind the wheel during a deadly crash in Butler County was in court this morning for his sentencing.
Bryant Butler was 17 when he crashed his SUV in July of 2012.
Butler and 15-year-old Alexis McKinney were thrown from the vehicle, which overturned several times and also caught fire.
McKinney died at the scene.
Police say Butler was allegedly speeding and intoxicated with drugs and alcohol.
Since he has had about two years of house arrest since the accident, Butler will be on probation until his 21st birthday. He will not serve any jail time
Butler apparently suffers from tremors, memory lapses and insomnia since the accident. He was also treated for traumatic brain injury. He has spent the last two years in hospitals and rehab for traumatic brain damage.
"I can't believe he's gonna walk outta here," said David McKinney. "It feels like there is no justice at all."
David McKinney can't help but be bitter about the the man who was behind the wheel when his daughter was killed in a fiery crash.
"He's took my life away from me," he said. "Lexi was my life to me."
Pretty and vivacious, Alexis McKinney was a week away from her Sweet 16 birthday. She was an 'A' honor student at Knoch High School. Her world seemed without limits.
"I dream of her all the time," says her Dad. "She comes back to me in my dreams."
Neither Alexis nor Bryant was wearing a seatbelt. Both were thrown. She was killed, he suffered critical head injuries.
"No matter what you do you can't protect them from stuff every minute," said David McKinney. "I just miss her so much it's just so horrible going home without her there."
At his sentencing, Wednesday, Butler told the judge: "I truly wish I could trade places with her. I'm truly sorry for everyone I hurt. Hopefully I can honor my friend in doing good things to make this world a better place."
"Oh, I would love to see him go to jail," said David McKinney. "I think he should pay for what he's done."
Because he was a minor at the time of the accident, Butler was sentenced in Juvenile Court.
"I don't care what has happened to him," said McKinney. "He brought it all on himself."
In delivering the sentence, the judge said that he wished he had something comforting or profound to say, that he had to put emotion aside and be guided by law.
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