Wilcox Pleads Guilty in Crash Death of Binghamton Teenager

A Harpursville man will be heading to prison after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicular manslaughter in the death of 16-year-old Harper Stantz.

Kevin Wilcox entered his plea in Broome County court Tuesday morning. He was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in state prison.

Wilcox admitted he was impaired by drugs when the Jeep he was driving mowed down Stantz and a friend on Beethoven Street on Binghamton's West Side.

Stantz died as a result of injuries sustained when she was struck by the vehicle on March 11. 19-year-old Britney Laserinko was seriously hurt in the incident.

Stantz and Laserinko were walking home after playing tennis at nearby Recreation Park on the sunny late-winter afternoon.

The vehicle operated by Wilcox hit them as they walked on a sidewalk. The out-of-control Jeep then struck two trees before coming to a halt at the intersection of Beethoven Street and Lincoln Avenue.

Wilcox was not injured. He was taken into custody at the scene.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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