A former Kingston resident charged with two counts of first-degree manslaughter was sentenced earlier this month on reduced misdemeanor convictions after being found guilty by a jury on the lesser charges.
In May, a jury found 24-year-old Bailey Joe Greenlee, who now is a resident of Hobbs, N.M., guilty of two counts of misdemeanor negligent homicide for the Nov. 4, 2022, crash that killed Melva Love, 73, and Kaylei M. Greenlee, both also of Kingston.BryanCountySpecial Judge Austin Browning sentenced Greenlee in July to a one-year suspended jail sentence.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the crash happened east of the Roosevelt Bridge when a Mustang driven by Greenlee collided with a Hyundai Sonata driven by Darryl Love also of Kingston. His wife, Melva Love was a passenger, and Mrs. Greenlee was Mr. Greenlee’s wife. Mr. Love was injured.
According to a report by Trooper Joshua Christian, Greenlee was driving a defective vehicle at a speed greater than reasonable and proper at the time of the crash. An affidavit states Greenlee lost control of the Mustang, and it went into a broad slide while crossing the center line before being struck in the right passenger side by the Sonota.
Christian obtained a search warrant for the Mustang, and he learned the left rear tire was worn to the point that wire and banding underneath was exposed, the affidavit states. The front right tire was a spare. Mrs. Greenlee’s mother told Christian she knew the tires were an issue and that Mr. Greenlee was driving on bad tires for about a month and a half.
According to the affidavit, the event data recorder revealed the Mustang began losing lateral stability, and this was believed to have occurred because of the rear tire breaking loose from the frictionoftheroadwaycaused by water on the road.
As part of the sentence, Greenlee must maintain fulltime employment, have grief counseling, and serve 100 hours of community service to a non-profit program.