(Stillwater, Okla.) — A pick-up truck driver, who reportedly told a police officer he was texting on the phone while driving before skidding, has been placed on three years’ probation with extensive conditions for leaving the scene of a personal injury accident in Stillwater.
Zachary Jon Harbin, 27, of Mansfield, Texas, pleaded guilty to the felony charge on April 17, court records showed today.
Harbin was ordered to have a substance abuse evaluation, comply with any recommended follow-up, attend a victim impact panel, perform 75 hours of community service, and pay $600 in fines and assessments, court records show.
Harbin must pay $2,829 restitution, but he was not required to do so now pending the outcome of a civil lawsuit, under an order by Associate District Judge Stephen Kistler, who set a restitution review date for Oct. 16.
Harbin had been arrested on July 22, 2014, at 9:35 p.m., less than an hour after Stillwater Police Officer Daryle Gee was sent to an injury accident at Sixth and Western Streets in Stillwater. “Harbin stated he was texting his girlfriend on the phone when he was driving and the next thing he remembered was skidding in his pick-up and then looking for his hotel while in a daze,” the affidavit said.
“He said he remembered me contacting him in the parking lot and again at the hospital,” the officer wrote in his affidavit.
“I asked Harbin why he left the scene of the accident, and he looked at me with a blank stare. I informed Harbin that I know he was involved in an accident because of the damage to his vehicle, and a witness followed him to this parking lot,” at a hotel, the officer wrote in his affidavit.
“Harbin said he was westbound on 6th in the inside lane and was hit. I noticed Harbin had slurred broken speech and I asked him how much he had to drink.
“Harbin said he had been drinking at the hotel prior to going to his girlfriend’s house and drank some at his girlfriend’s house prior to going back to the hotel,” the affidavit said. Harbin was charged by the District Attorney’s Office only with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, court records show.
“When emergency personnel started arriving at the scene, Harbin started to complain of a neck injury,” and he was transported by ambulance to the Stillwater Medical Center, the affidavit said.
At the hospital, police were advised that the other party involved in the collision had arrived there for treatment,the affidavit said. “Harbin was seen and treated by hospital personnel and released from the ER.
“At the jail, Harbin stated he was concerned about the other people involved in the accident and wanted to apologize to them,” the affidavit said.
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