Cat, cellphone suspected distractions behind crash

Toronto Sun ^ | June 14, 2011

[Squawk 8888]

BARRIE, Ont. - Police blame some serious distracted driving for a chain-reaction crash that caused more than $100,000 in damage after a teenager struck a parked car in this city north of Toronto.

Police said the driver was texting and trying to pick up her cat when the collision happened.

Cops said the teenager was speeding when she lost control of the car, left the roadway and struck a car parked in a driveway. It was pushed into a boat, which was also in the driveway. The boat was then pushed into the house and a neighbour's vehicle.

The driver was taken to hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.

She has been charged with careless driving.

[Squawk 8888]

Kitty krash ping.

[Traveler59]

Umm, Dad? First, I'm OK, but you know that rattle in the door panel? Don't worry about it anymore......

[HiTech RedNeck]

Actually the cat was trying to text and she was shooing it off of the keypad.

[I still care]

Years ago, my cat threw a truck off the road. Really.

[Blue Jays]

Current efforts to halt people from distracted driving aren't working.
At the very least, texting should be disabled if the device determines current speed to be greater than 5 mph.
A technological solution would naturally need to be uncovered for bus/train riders or for passengers in moving automobiles.

[smokingfrog]

But how is the cat?

[Names Ash Housewares]

Is the cat ok?

[Ken H]

Too many distracted drivers these days. The other day I saw a lady in the lane next to me talking on her cell phone and putting on make-up.

I was so irritated that I nearly cut myself shaving!

[Not A Snowbird]

So is the cat okay?

[Cicero]

It’s not often that you get to knock a boat into someone’s house with your car.

Smart cat!

[penelopesire]

“Actually the cat was trying to text and she was shooing it off of the keypad.”

Maybe it was one of Weiner’s ‘kittys’....(eye roll)! lol

[Waverunner]

Most peculiar, It's amazing how each new step forward in evolution selects the best for survival in the current environment.

[Noumenon]

Should have let the cat do the texting...

[Right Wing Assault]

A kid around where I live was texting while driving and was killed.

[Shannon]

I was at a stoplight a few years ago and the woman in front of me was brushing her teeth. I couldn't believe it. I sat there wondering if she was going to lower her window for a giant spit when she was done. Nope, I guess she swallowed it. I never saw her take a drink of water either.

[Blue Jays]

Unlucky for the neighbor kid.
Hope no innocent people were hurt.

[dljordan]

Saturday, I saw a youth riding a scooter on a busy street and texting. Many of todays youth have no survival instinct that I can see.

[USNBandit]

I wonder if the cat’s name was Toonces?

[al_c]

"Honest, officer. Teh teenager wuz drivin!"