Man gets 14 years for driving on meth, killing Leawood couple in wreck
An Independence man has been sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for causing a Leawood wreck that killed an elderly couple on their way to church.
Harold Benton Cyphers III was sentenced Tuesday in Johnson County District Court after pleading guilty last month to two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of Donna Manning, 69, and her 71-year-old husband, William Manning.
The crash occurred July 3 at 119th Street and State Line Road.
Cyphers, 37, was driving under the influence of methamphetamine when he ran a red light and his vehicle collided with the Overland Park couple’s car. They were heading to a nearby church.
William Manning played in the church orchestra. He and his wife both had worked at Nazarene Publishing House.
Cyphers also pleaded guilty to charges of identity theft and possession of methamphetamine.
Cyphers received a total sentence of 14 years and seven months in prison.
Ian Cummings: 816-234-4633, @Ian__Cummings
This story was originally published May 24, 2017 at 12:56 PM with the headline "Man gets 14 years for driving on meth, killing Leawood couple in wreck."