BLACK EARTH — A UW–Platteville graduate was killed in a crash in front of Wisconsin Heights High School Wednesday morning, May 30.
Katie Binning, 22, was killed in a three-vehicle crash around 7:30 a.m., according to the Dane County Sheriff’s Department.
Binning was turning from U.S. 14 into the high school when her car was rear-ended by a tractor–trailer driven by Gary J. Lammert, 48, Moffit, N.D. Binning’s car was pushed into oncoming traffic, where it collided with a van driven by Richard M. Butler, 63, Wonewoc, according to the sheriff’s department.
Butler was taken to Sauk Prairie Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Lammert and his passenger were not injured.
Binning, a native of Abbotsford who graduated from UW–Platteville in May, was a student teacher in art at Wisconsin Heights High School. The Wisconsin State Journal in Madison reported that Binning had just moved from Platteville to Madison.
In an interview with the Vanguard Voice, Wisconsin Heights’ student newspaper, Binning said, “If I can’t change things, I won’t be one of those yelling in the crowd; I’ll change it with my students. If my students value art then they will grow up valuing art, and that will change it for the future. In that way I will have made change for the better.”
Binning had been a professionally commissioned artist since high school. “If I am not creating stuff I go nuts, so why not pursue that as a career?” she said.
“She is a hard-working, innovative, effervescent, and a wonderful woman,” said Wisconsin Heights art teacher Julie Adams.
“She’s really good at relating to kids our age; she knows tons of techniques to make you a better artist,” said Wisconsin Heights senior Dani Steel. “Katie makes sure you stay on task and meet the deadlines while giving you the time to finish your art with ease. I couldn’t have asked for a better addition to my senior year.”
Binning ran cross country at UW–Platteville and received four consecutive Gabe Miller Star Athlete Awards, for having the team’s best grade point average. She also won two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Sportsmanship awards.
Binning’s funeral was held in Abbotsford Monday. Online condolences can be made at www.maurinaschillingfuneralhome.com.
