Post by ♥Ms J®♥ on Nov 15, 2006 11:51:24 GMT -5
www.thedenverchannel.com/news/10324317/detail.html
Funeral Today For 3 Family Members Killed In Crash
Only Father Survived Downtown Denver Hit & Run
DENVER -- Services were scheduled Wednesday in Englewood for a mother and her two children killed in a hit-and-run crash over the weekend.
Prosecutors in Denver also expected to file formal charges against Lawrence Trujillo, 36, of Westminster on Wednesday. Police said he admitted to driving while drunk that night.
Becca Bingham and her 4-year-old daughter, Macie, and 2-year-old son, Garrison were killed. Only the father, Frank Bingham, survived. The family of four was walking in downtown Denver, enjoying a Friday night on the town, when a speeding pick-up truck slammed into them as they were making their way through a crosswalk.
Witnesses said the truck was traveling and a high speed and didn't stop after the accident. The force of the impact with the four ripped the front license plate off the truck and police traced it to an Westminster address where the truck and was found and Trujillo arrested.
Frank Bingham sustained nerve damage in his right arm and may never have full use of it again, as a result of being run over.
"It's a wave of emotion where sometimes the tide is out and other times it's a tsunami," said Bingham's brother-in-law Robert Stone.
As the family tries to come to terms with the tragedy that took the lives of their loved ones, they reflect on happier times.
"We traveled with them. We went to Hawaii with them. We went to Mexico," said Stone. "It was great -- their kids playing with our kids and just hanging out."
Bingham's sister, Autumn Stone, and her husband, Robert, said Macie and Garrison were very close to each other.
"Like two peas in a pod, they always liked being together, whether they were at home or over at the cousins'," said Robert.
Autumn and Robert's children, Rylan and Landon, lost their cousins and their mother lost a beloved sister-in-law.
"They were so happy. Everything was the way they wanted it to be," said Autumn. "They were a great family."
Autumn said Bingham and Becca had a close, loving relationship.
"(Becca) was from the south. She had a great southern accent," said Autumn. "She was one of those people with a great sense of humor, and she could say anything with her charm and get away with it."
Robert also describes Becca as a charmer.
"She was a southern bell and she would just light up the room with her smile," he said.
Autumn said emotionally, her brother is doing as well as can be expected. In terms of the family's own emotions, they said they are devastated but determined to help him get through this.
Family friend John Youngquist said Bingham is filled with sorrow and grief and is focusing on taking it one step at a time.
"Frank is a man of strong faith. In this week he has just been challenged with sorrow and sadness," said Youngquist. "He wants to understand and he wants to engage in conversations about what life is about."
Youngquist said Bingham doesn't remember the horrific accident, or the moment it occurred, though he was aware in the hospital that Becca, Macie and Garrison had been killed.
"Frank understood through the horrifying experience of Friday night and Saturday that he'd lost his wife and he'd lost his children," said Youngquist. "His first thoughts and questions were truly about the loss and how to reach into his faith and what steps (he needs) to take to understand."
Youngquist said Bingham has not spent much time focusing on the suspects, but on his own grieving process.
"He's a strong man of faith. He and Becca were very involved in the church," said Robert. "He's not thinking of that other part right now. He's thinking of Becca and the kids and taking it one step at a time."
Funeral services will be held for Becca, Macie and Garrison on Wednesday afternoon at Colorado Community Church at Hampden Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. The service begins at 2 p.m. and is open to the public.
Anyone who wants to attend is invited to bring a children's book, as a tribute to Bingham's love for education. Many friends and family from the education community are expected to attend Wednesday's memorial service.
A memorial fund for the family has been set up by the Cherry Creek Community Church. A contribution can be made through:
Bingham Family Memorial Fund
First Bank (any location)
P.O. Box 507
Arvada, CO 80001
The money goes to the International Orphans-Adoptions Agency and Denver Dumb Friends League -- organizations that were near and dear to Becca Bingham's heart.
Bingham told friends and family that he hopes the memorial will draw the memory of his family into the future.
UCD is accepting cards and letters for the family. You can mail them to:
Frank Bingham
c/o Lynn Rhoades
Box 106
P.O. Box 173364
School of Education & Human Development at UCDHSC
Denver, CO 80217-3364
Funeral Today For 3 Family Members Killed In Crash
Only Father Survived Downtown Denver Hit & Run
DENVER -- Services were scheduled Wednesday in Englewood for a mother and her two children killed in a hit-and-run crash over the weekend.
Prosecutors in Denver also expected to file formal charges against Lawrence Trujillo, 36, of Westminster on Wednesday. Police said he admitted to driving while drunk that night.
Becca Bingham and her 4-year-old daughter, Macie, and 2-year-old son, Garrison were killed. Only the father, Frank Bingham, survived. The family of four was walking in downtown Denver, enjoying a Friday night on the town, when a speeding pick-up truck slammed into them as they were making their way through a crosswalk.
Witnesses said the truck was traveling and a high speed and didn't stop after the accident. The force of the impact with the four ripped the front license plate off the truck and police traced it to an Westminster address where the truck and was found and Trujillo arrested.
Frank Bingham sustained nerve damage in his right arm and may never have full use of it again, as a result of being run over.
"It's a wave of emotion where sometimes the tide is out and other times it's a tsunami," said Bingham's brother-in-law Robert Stone.
As the family tries to come to terms with the tragedy that took the lives of their loved ones, they reflect on happier times.
"We traveled with them. We went to Hawaii with them. We went to Mexico," said Stone. "It was great -- their kids playing with our kids and just hanging out."
Bingham's sister, Autumn Stone, and her husband, Robert, said Macie and Garrison were very close to each other.
"Like two peas in a pod, they always liked being together, whether they were at home or over at the cousins'," said Robert.
Autumn and Robert's children, Rylan and Landon, lost their cousins and their mother lost a beloved sister-in-law.
"They were so happy. Everything was the way they wanted it to be," said Autumn. "They were a great family."
Autumn said Bingham and Becca had a close, loving relationship.
"(Becca) was from the south. She had a great southern accent," said Autumn. "She was one of those people with a great sense of humor, and she could say anything with her charm and get away with it."
Robert also describes Becca as a charmer.
"She was a southern bell and she would just light up the room with her smile," he said.
Autumn said emotionally, her brother is doing as well as can be expected. In terms of the family's own emotions, they said they are devastated but determined to help him get through this.
Family friend John Youngquist said Bingham is filled with sorrow and grief and is focusing on taking it one step at a time.
"Frank is a man of strong faith. In this week he has just been challenged with sorrow and sadness," said Youngquist. "He wants to understand and he wants to engage in conversations about what life is about."
Youngquist said Bingham doesn't remember the horrific accident, or the moment it occurred, though he was aware in the hospital that Becca, Macie and Garrison had been killed.
"Frank understood through the horrifying experience of Friday night and Saturday that he'd lost his wife and he'd lost his children," said Youngquist. "His first thoughts and questions were truly about the loss and how to reach into his faith and what steps (he needs) to take to understand."
Youngquist said Bingham has not spent much time focusing on the suspects, but on his own grieving process.
"He's a strong man of faith. He and Becca were very involved in the church," said Robert. "He's not thinking of that other part right now. He's thinking of Becca and the kids and taking it one step at a time."
Funeral services will be held for Becca, Macie and Garrison on Wednesday afternoon at Colorado Community Church at Hampden Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. The service begins at 2 p.m. and is open to the public.
Anyone who wants to attend is invited to bring a children's book, as a tribute to Bingham's love for education. Many friends and family from the education community are expected to attend Wednesday's memorial service.
A memorial fund for the family has been set up by the Cherry Creek Community Church. A contribution can be made through:
Bingham Family Memorial Fund
First Bank (any location)
P.O. Box 507
Arvada, CO 80001
The money goes to the International Orphans-Adoptions Agency and Denver Dumb Friends League -- organizations that were near and dear to Becca Bingham's heart.
Bingham told friends and family that he hopes the memorial will draw the memory of his family into the future.
UCD is accepting cards and letters for the family. You can mail them to:
Frank Bingham
c/o Lynn Rhoades
Box 106
P.O. Box 173364
School of Education & Human Development at UCDHSC
Denver, CO 80217-3364