Posted on 11/26/2005 11:15:52 AM PST by Pharmboy
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (AP) -- A 17-year-old likely will face misdemeanor charges after allegedly losing control of his car while text messaging and hitting a bicyclist.
The bicyclist, Jim R. Price of Highlands Ranch, died Friday, two days after the accident.
"We do not believe it was an intentional act, but it was inattentiveness to the roadway," said Lt. Alan Stanton, spokesman for Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
"The investigation showed that he was text-messaging on his cell phone" at the time of the accident, said Stanton.
The driver could face a charge of careless driving resulting in death, Stanton said. Under Colorado law, the teen could face up to a year in prison.
It was the second time Price, an avid cyclist, had been hit by car. He suffered a broken ankle two years ago when he was hit while riding on a bike path. His wife, Shirley, said he had been especially mindful of cars since then.
Shirley Price wasn't angry with the teen. "I feel sorry for the teenager," she said. "It was a stupid mistake," she told the Rocky Mountain News.
Lest we forget the death of an innocent victim Mom.
Riding a bicycle on the side of the road in todays world is nearly a suicidal act. Nearly every other driver going by is either on drugs, alcohol, or not paying attention and talking on a cell phone. People driving while talking/operating cell phones do not mix.
There is a lot of stupid people on their bicycles also....
Or.....worse yet.....she may be a liberal!
Nice mindset you tote there Jigsaw.
Bicycling is good for your health?
Hopefully the cyclist took out life insurance after that first crash.
"...That's really amazing. I can't believe her attitude so soon after he was killed..."
The two of them may have been in the midst of a truly nasty divorce when her husband was killed. It would have been inappropriate for her to smile with glee, so she just took the high road.
This was the same phenomenon I theorized after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It seemed that nobody said, "Hey, I'm glad to see that two-timing, womanizing drunkard dead!", so they just took the insurance money, said a few nice words, and got on with their lives.
That said, the kid is an immature idiot who needs to be taught an extremely harsh lesson. He should get significantly more than a slap on the wrist.
~ Blue Jays ~
He was quite the mechanic, who helped many others with his knowledge.
RIP "Sydney"
This accident was right in my neighborhood.
It happened at the hilltop intersection that provides the entrance road to the Highschool and Middle School.
The limited sight distance and the "SCHOOL ZONE" require the DRIVER'S FULL ATTENTION!
Neighbors saw flight-for-life come in.
Prayers for all!
I was waiting for a friend in a parking lot. A woman on a cell phone walked out of a building and she was talking on a cell phone. She walked right in front of my car, around the passenger side and proceeded to try and open my passenger door. When she discovered it was locked, she looked through the window at me, and was totally in shock that she was attempting to enter the wrong vehicle. Totally embarrassed, she quickly walked away and entered another vehicle 3 parking spots away from mine.
Just more proof, cell phones are a major distraction for most people.
----I wasn't so forgiving when a drunk killed my husband and baby boy and I NEVER will. It is hard to forgive someone who kills your family through sheer negligence
It has to be for bicycles don't pay taxes for road use and the savings can be used prudently for personal health concerns.
"Driving while under the influence of electronic devices...."
Arizona law allows for a DUI charge if "Impaired to the slightest degree."
It doesn't say impaired by what!
She wasn't paying enough attention to the little animals on the light posts to show her where her car actually was parked...
Rest assured that bicyclists are far more concerned about motor vehicles than the other way around. Most avid cyclists around here can be seen in bright riding garments, helmets, and with flashing red LED beacons.
Children can be somewhat unpredictable on their bicycles, but I would surmise that if the fatality involves an adult bicycle enthusiast, the blame can likely be applied to the motorist. The rider simply has MUCH more at risk.
~ Blue Jays ~
I didn't see a turtle story here
I hope the perpretator got serious prison time.
"I'm not a lawyer either,..."
The balance of your comment shows that. But, he could be charged in most (if not all) states for negligent manslaughter.
It doesn't say impaired by what!
A law designed by Attorneys obviously for being human is to show the ability to be impaired in some way.
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