Boy killed by texting driver

According to a report from the Boston Globe, a man claims that he was typing a text message into his cellphone when he lost control of his SUV and fatally struck a 13-year-old boy on a bicycle. In a stark and sad reminder of the cause for recent laws put into effect governing texting / phoning while driving, it appears the man was so distracted that he didn't even realize what had happened until later that night. Ironically, the friend of the boy who had been walking with him attempted to call 911 on his phone, but was unable to get through. The driver is being charged with motor vehicle homicide, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and driving without a license. A tragic story -- and unfortunately not the first we've seen -- but hopefully a cautionary tale for anyone who regularly juggles driving and texting. Don't.

[4honor @ Dec 28th 2007 12:36PM]

Man, that is just sad... Come on people, seriously.

[Warhorse @ Dec 28th 2007 12:38PM]

Texting while driving? Now that's asking for trouble.

[Constable Odo @ Dec 28th 2007 2:55PM]

Maybe he was texting to his wife he was quite drunk and would be home a little late so don't bother to wait up for him.

[Zeus the God @ Dec 28th 2007 6:10PM]

Yeah, because driving drunk is so much better, eh?

[james @ Dec 28th 2007 12:38PM]

Talking on the phone is bad enough, texting is just stupid. Would you read a book while driving?

[Jason @ Dec 28th 2007 1:08PM]

You know, you would think that common sense would prevent this, but you have no idea how many people I see every morning and evenin on my commute that are reading newspapers or books, its scary but very common

[Speddy @ Dec 28th 2007 1:13PM]

I've witnessed drivers reading books, newspapers, directions...as though their steering wheel was a pulpit!

[Joe Blow @ Dec 28th 2007 1:45PM]

Tragic story, but still annoying to see it used as an excuse for more Draconian driving laws.

"leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and driving without a license"

Seems to me the driver had bigger issues than driving while texting. Although I avoid it, I sometimes talk on the phone while driving, and occasionally read or send a quick text message. I also drive faster than the speed limit on a regular basis.

Guess what? I haven't had a single ticket or accident in over 10 years. The issue is not the specific activity but the person's overall driving skills and common sense. You should punish people when their behavior results in harm to someone else, not just because they're behavior could possibly result in harm.

I guess if he had been listening to an iPod the reaction would have been similar. What if the driver had said he ran into the kid because he was listening to loud music on his car's stereo. Would this be justification to ban stereo equipment in cars? How far do we take this? Writing with a pen on a piece of paper? Fumbling with the A/C controls? Picking one's nose?

Some folks are always looking for simple answers and quick fixes to everything - no matter how disruptive and ineffective the solution may be. Fertile ground for politicians.

[John Laur @ Dec 28th 2007 2:33PM]

Steering wheel pulpit you say?

I say WheelDesk!

http://www.mobilegear.com/product_p/mgwd-01.htm

[Stellar @ Dec 28th 2007 3:38PM]

Joe -> that makes no sense at all. loud music, unless so excruciatingly loud that it causes your eyes to shut, does not distract your vision. so how does that relate to focusing on a screen while allowing the road and everything on it to become 'background noise'?

[jamesr242 @ Dec 28th 2007 3:39PM]

Joe Blow, you're an idiot!! By your logic maybe drunk driving could be legal too and then we can only punish the ones that kill people. I agree that you can't take it too far, like picking your nose etc., but texting should obviously be illegal.

[tiuk @ Dec 28th 2007 3:56PM]

Yeah, driving near a local college I once saw a girl reading from a book on her steering wheel. Probably studying.

I couldn't believe it.

[zabador @ Dec 28th 2007 4:51PM]

@Joe Blow
Although you do make a good argument are you suggesting that drinking and driving is ok as long as you don't preform some sort of illegal maneuver while under the influence? There are some activities which are dangerous to do while your attention should be on the road. Granted this particular individual obvious y had larger issues at hand if he was charged with driving without a license, and although you seem to be able to multi-task quite fine that does not mean that the average "Joe Blow" on the street is capable of such feats. i know i for one am not so i exercise my right to common sense and abstain, others like me might not.

[henry @ Dec 28th 2007 5:44PM]

just this morning on my way to work i saw some minivan driving along, straddling two lanes. when we got up to the stoplight, i look over at this idiot and see that they have a stack of papers spread out across their dash and steering wheel. at that very same intersection a week prior, 3 people were killed in a car crash by a person going through the red light who was messing with their phone.

the roads are no longer safe to drive on.

[paul @ Dec 28th 2007 10:08PM]

Can you carry on a conversation with the person in the passenger seat while driving with one hand? How is that different from talking on the phone? Can you drive safely while switching the channels on the radio/CD player? How is that different from glancing at the phone and pushing buttons on it?

The problem isn't the source of distraction - there is ALWAYS going to be SOMETHING to distract you while driving. The problem is the person that is in charge of the wheel not being able to operate the vehicle safely.

[Ten Dolla Bill @ Dec 28th 2007 12:38PM]

You disgust me

[andyo @ Dec 28th 2007 12:39PM]

Really, how are people so stupid? Talking is bad enough for some people, but TEXTING? Come on, after he gets out of prison (where hopefully they'll send him to) they should send him to a stupid asylum (Hopefully they would have invented those by then.)

[paragraph @ Dec 28th 2007 12:40PM]

FTW!

If a small rodent is 1
And a dog is 3...

[ViagraFiend @ Dec 28th 2007 12:43PM]

Isn't somebody always doing something when their car loses control and hits someone? Whether its putting in a CD, scratching your balls, looking at a pretty broad driving next to you or yes, using the phone in some way, its all dangerous. Laws don't stop stupid people from doing stupid stuff.

[whatishalo? @ Dec 28th 2007 12:48PM]

Do you really have to look away from the road to scratch your balls?

Seriously, maby auto makers should include a faraday cage in the vehicle frame that way the only cell phone usage would have to be via a hands-free system tied to an external antenna.

[Matthew Hilario @ Dec 28th 2007 12:51PM]

almost 2008 and there isn't 1 car with a ball scratching feature yet?

[Matthew Hilario @ Dec 28th 2007 12:51PM]

almost 2008 and there isn't 1 car with a ball scratching feature yet?

[The Fuzz 53 @ Dec 28th 2007 1:24PM]

And this is why all people need to be sterilized and only those that prove themselves to not be stupid should be allowed to breed. It is absolutly necessary to stop the breeding of dumb people.

[Samurai Jack @ Dec 28th 2007 1:24PM]

You're right, laws won't prevent stupid people from doing stupid things. But having laws like this on the books will ensure that stupid people receive additional punishment for doing stupid things. That's why it's a good thing.

If you get stopped for texting while driving and given a ticket perhaps that experience will teach you not to do it again, and tragedies like this won't happen in the future.

[Kr4t05 @ Dec 28th 2007 2:37PM]

@TheFuzz

So, you approve of a totalitarian government, where every aspect of your life is controlled by the system "for your own good?"

While the article is unfortunate, the solution isn't more regulation, but education and positive feedback. Insurance companies should continue to offer discounts for drivers who buy vehicles equipped with hands-free devices. More vehicles need to be required to have or support these types of systems, and people need to be taught how to use these systems properly.

The idea of forced sterilization and regulated population are very scary and Orwellian thoughts. If you can't handle daily responsibility for your actions, that's your problem.

[Bill Lawson @ Dec 28th 2007 3:00PM]

"You're right, laws won't prevent stupid people from doing stupid things. But having laws like this on the books will ensure that stupid people receive additional punishment for doing stupid things. That's why it's a good thing.

If you get stopped for texting while driving and given a ticket perhaps that experience will teach you not to do it again, and tragedies like this won't happen in the future."

Great Logic. Let's see - Vehicular Homicide - 7 years, leaving the scene, 1 year, and tack on a misdemeanor $250 fine for texting while driving-that’ll sure show ‘em.

How about the 3 pieces of white trash who drug that black man to his death in Texas a few years back? People screamed they be charged with ‘hate crimes.’ They were convicted, with 2 getting the death penalty, and one life. And in Texas, the DP means something…but hey let’s tack on ‘mind crimes’ for an additional year or two of prison time. Makes some of us feel better…

DUI, Texting While Driving (TWI?), Mind Crimes, WrongThink…amazes me how so many people go like sheep to the abattoir, agreeing with the criminalization of things that result in NO DAMAGE or injury to another…Drunk and hit someone? Sure, go to jail. But an arbitrary limit on blood alcohol is nothing but a way for the state to levy a free tax in the form of tickets…like those DUI checkpoints, comrade? Papers, please!

Not long ago, State Police in Delaware were using night vision goggles to pull over and fine drivers who were not wearing seat belts…

…yes, please have the State “teach you not to do it again, and tragedies like this won't happen in the future” – and we’ll all live in a warm cotton-candy cocoon; you exist for the State, and all freedom is but a gift of Mercy from our Political Elites. Please pass more laws, and teach us what dwindling choices we can make.

[webuser @ Dec 29th 2007 9:45PM]

Yes, it's always "Driver runs into school bus while trying to make a long island ice tea while doing 90mph", "Teenage girl drives of cliff while texting bff about 'completely lame' ex-boyfriend", or "Driver crashes into children's choir while putting on makeup". I've never seen the headline "Sober driver, with full attention on road and hands at 10 and 2, careens into bus carrying repeat sex offenders."

[Wayne @ Dec 28th 2007 12:45PM]

If we could just get people to stop texting, talking on cellphones, applying make-up, eating, and reading the paper (or other printed material) while driving, we'd be making progess!

[ethana2 @ Dec 28th 2007 3:20PM]

Citizen tickets.

[Speddy @ Dec 28th 2007 12:50PM]

Carmageddon!!

[Max @ Dec 28th 2007 12:52PM]

If we could only pass a law that prevents people from being morons, we'd be all set.

Except all the jails would fill up.

[Morac @ Dec 28th 2007 12:57PM]

New Jersey actually passed a law which takes effect in March which makes texting while driving a primary offense. This means a cop can pull you over if he sees you texting (or talking) on a cell phone.

[Rocketboy @ Dec 28th 2007 12:55PM]

I don't buy it. He didn't realize it was not a mailbox until 'hours later'? I'm sure that the kid-shaped splat on the ground in his rear view mirror was very mailbox like. I say the bastard was drunk, and waited a few hours to sober up, trying to avoid a felony.

[Jonathan-DBOSS @ Dec 28th 2007 12:59PM]

Don't text if you're over 18.

[Ray-- @ Dec 28th 2007 12:59PM]

plus it says he didnt even have a drivers license in the first place... this guy is BS, he knew he should have stopped. No matter what you hit you stop. period.

[Rocketboy @ Dec 28th 2007 12:59PM]

Oh, and check out this line "After driving back by the crash scene, Bigos waited several hours before turning himself in Thursday afternoon". As this happened at night, and he didn't turn himself in until the next afternoon, ya, I'd say he was under the influence of something other than texting. It's a classic weasel move, hide out and make up an excuse before you turn yourself in after you killed someone with your car. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened.

[Jeff @ Dec 28th 2007 1:22PM]

He'd have gotten a lesser charge if he was drunk, most likely. Vehicular manslaughter vs. vehicular homicide.

He's basically being treated as a murderer now, which is what he is. Somehow, our society considers being drunk when you kill somebody as some sort of excuse, rather than actually making it worse (as it should).

[Rocketboy @ Dec 28th 2007 1:48PM]

Jeff... Depending on the local laws, but in some areas (like where I live) if you kill someone with your car when you're drunk, it's a worse penalty then when you're sober. I believe that the thought behind that is if you made the decision to drive when you were drunk, that's considered intent. If you're sober, it's considered an accident. About 5-10 years back near when I live, a lawyer who was drunk killed someone on a bicycle by running him over, and the lawyer hid for a day or two. That way, it could not be proven that he was drunk, and he got off on a lesser charge then if he was. Now how this would apply to someone who was texting, I'm not sure, but I'd bet dollars to donuts (and I love donuts), that this is the type of thing that he's trying to pull.

[Andrew @ Dec 28th 2007 1:00PM]

Some of you guys need to learn how to take a joke. Though inappropriate, it was halfway funny.

[Nate @ Dec 28th 2007 2:47PM]

Its not about talking on a cell phone or text messaging. It's about attention. Your attention can be diverted for any number of reasons. Cell phones are new and more visible so they getting more attention lately.

It should be illegal to talk on a cell phone at all, even hands free. It should also be illegal to have a car stereo or have screeming kids in the car.

[ethana2 @ Dec 28th 2007 3:18PM]

So you want the legal right to kick your kids out of your vehicle because they're screaming?
..sweeet.

A while ago, I /was/ one of those screaming kids. The worst part was that we were louder than police car sirens...

[Aerodynamics @ Dec 28th 2007 1:02PM]

bail was only $1000?

[Speddy @ Dec 28th 2007 1:15PM]

GTFO! The bail on the Baby Jesus theft was higher! And she was just across the street!

[Matthew Hilario @ Dec 28th 2007 1:23PM]

that's it for vehicular manslaughter and fleeing the scene of a crime which involved death? that has to be wrong.. you get a dui and that's jail time + $2500 bail. something isn't right.

[Aerodynamics @ Dec 28th 2007 1:39PM]

well now it says he was released on $5000 bail. earlier I swear it said $1000. must've been a typo.

[maxxwizard @ Dec 28th 2007 2:20PM]

pathetic...i also agree with the theory that he's BS. poor kid.

[JohnnyGTO @ Dec 28th 2007 1:10PM]

Ya probably drunk, stupid @$$hole should not have been texting but then why were two 13 year olds out checking up on girls at 12:30 at night? These stupid accidents always seem to happen when everyone fails to be a responsible person.

[Rocketboy @ Dec 28th 2007 1:51PM]

Good question about the 12 year olds, but it's a secondary point. Regardless if they were going for a 12 year old booty call, or checking on the local homeless to make sure that they had enough blankets to make it thru the night, the question on what they are doing is neither here nor there.

[JohnnyGTO @ Dec 28th 2007 1:57PM]

Oh, I'm not faulting the boys, I was one once to. I just, as a parent, have to wonder what parent would let there kids wander around that late. Cause this is the stupid tragic crap that has a greater chance of occuring when parents are not watching.

[Ghen @ Dec 28th 2007 1:06PM]

balls I swear I will vote + on multiple computers to get you back in the green or even black ;)