Hankinson, N.D. — A distracted driving case concluded with a sentence of two years probation and community service for the driver responsible for a fatal accident.
On June 16, 2025, Danielle Stein, 34, was sentenced in Richland County District Court after pleading guilty to negligent homicide in the death of Mariah Buck, 45. The incident occurred on Aug. 26, 2025, when Stein was using her phone while driving, striking Buck as she turned left into her driveway on County Road 81.
Witnesses reported that Stein was traveling at 65 mph in a 55 mph zone and did not brake until moments before impact. Buck was on a bike ride with her children when the collision occurred. Authorities confirmed that she was struck and later pronounced dead at the scene.
The Buck family requested leniency during sentencing, expressing their desire for forgiveness over punishment. “We don’t want her family to suffer anymore,” said Curtis White, Buck’s father. The judge accepted the family’s wishes, granting Stein probation rather than prison time.
As part of her sentence, Stein will perform 200 hours of community service, educating youth on the dangers of distracted driving. Judge Brad Cruff praised the Buck family for their grace in a difficult situation, noting that such forgiveness is rare in today’s society. Stein’s driver’s license was not revoked at the request of Buck’s husband, Todd, to allow her to maintain employment.
The investigation into the crash remains closed, with no further details released.