Posted on 05/04/2009 2:13:06 PM PDT by martin_fierro
Driver Painting Nails Hits, Kills Motorcyclist
Biker Thrown 200 Feet In Lake Zurich Accident
LAKE ZURICH, Ill. (CBS) ―
Anita Zaffke was stopped at a red light when a Chevy Impala, driven by a woman in her 40s, struck her motorcycle from behind.
A woman painting her fingernails while driving is accused in a deadly crash with a motorcycle in northwest suburban Lake Zurich over the weekend.
The incident happened in a southbound lane of Route 12 at Old McHenry Road about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Lake County Sheriff's police Sgt. Scott Morrison.
Anita Zaffke, 56, of the 1500 block of Eddy Lane in Lake Zurich, died about an hour later at Advocate Good Shepard Hospital in Barrington after suffering apparent chest and abdominal injuries from being thrown from her bike, Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller said.
A Monday autopsy found Zaffke died of multiple internal injuries to the chest and abdominal area, as well as a spinal fracture, according to Keller, who said the death has been ruled an accident.
Zaffke's motorcycle was stopped at a red light at the intersection which Morrison described as being T-shaped with a stop light when a Chevy Impala, driven by a woman in her 40s, struck the motorcycle from behind at a high rate of speed, Morrison said.
Zaffke was thrown about 200 feet from her motorcycle, according to Keller, who said she was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Keller said the female motorist told police she was painting her fingernails at the time of the crash and did not notice the light was red.
The woman, whom police have not identified, was cited with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, Morrison said. She was also hospitalized following the crash for non life-threatening injuries.
"There's a lot of analysis they still have to work out on the vehicle involved in the crash to determine speed and braking," Morrison said Sunday evening. "The investigation is ongoing but there should be charges against the woman in the very near future."
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This is why we need representatives to ensure our safety.
We need to ban motorcycles so this will never happen again and yet maintain personal freedoms with an across the board agenda. /s
The death was ruled an accident? What’s accidental about this? If you’re doing your nails while driving any car or truck, the liklihood of being unaware of traffic and possibly killing someone as a result is certainly close to 100%.
Throw the book at her.
It wasn't her fault and she shouldn't be prosecuted for a freak of nature incident.
Dumd broad probably got mad because her paint is now smeared.
At the least negligent vehicular manslaughter!
Isn't that a bit harsh of a penalty for a simple little mishap that could have involved anyone just trying to live life and be happy?
They should be talking Negligent Homicide or even Manslaughter. Tag-on maybe 4 or 5 traffic citations,ie,failure to control vehicle,etc..
Frustration can be such a concerning issue when government isn't there to prevent it.
Cut some slack for crying out loud.
I know you're joking, but why didn't you suggest banning nail polish?
I say we ban drivers.
Let this be a lesson to all motorcyclists to make sure they watch their mirrors at traffic lights, keep the bike in gear and cover the throttle and clutch. All but the most anemic bikes have the acceleration capacity to drive out of the way of a potential wreck like this if the rider is attentive.If you’re not first in line at the light, leave enough room between you and the car in front that you can get up alongside if something like this happens. Two cars in a rear-ender generally means ticked-off people and a tow truck. With a bike, a rear-ender nearly always results in an ambulance at best, and a coroner’s wagon at worst.
No, we'll just reduce their activity through cap and trade disincentives to driving.
This kind of stuff is exactly why I quit riding many years ago.
I was safe, but those around me were not...
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses teach the maneuvers necessary to avoid just such a scenario.
MSF has the beginners course, which I took about nine years ago to brush up after getting off bikes for a couple of years, and then they have an Advanced Rider's course which is good to take every couple of years to brush up on emergency procedures.
All the defensive driving in the world won’t make a hill of beans if the courts treat offenders with kidd gloves.
Appears that motorcyclists are second class citizens.
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