The Daily Herald (www.dailyherald.com) carries an article this morning about the motorcyclist killed by a distracted driver.
The motorcyclist, 55-year-old Anita Zaffke, was rear-ended after slowing in the 55MPH zone and stopping, when the traffic light ahead changed to yellow. Her motorcycle was struck from behind by the car of a woman who may have been painting her fingernails. Lake Zurich Police reported finding no skid marks on the pavement.
The driver of the car was charged with "Failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident."
It was the Lake County Coroner's opinion that Kaffke's death was "accidental." Well, duhhhh... What's important is that Coroners (at least, their juries) don't have much leeway in assigning causes of death. A death can be accidental, homicide, undetermined, and there is one other choice. I recall these choices from attending a coroner's inquest in McHenry County (of which I had a very poor opinion).
If it turns out that the car's driver was, as reported, painting her fingernails while she was driving at 55MPH and approaching a signalized intersection (or painting her nails at all, while driving; here's a new charge: "P-W-D"), then a whole flurry of charges should follow, including Reckless Driving. Maybe involuntary manslaughter?
When will drivers stop multi-tasking and drive their cars without dividing their attention?
When will police increase their enforcement against distracted driving?
Snow Sticking
56 minutes ago
2 comments:
She should be getting charged with anything she can be no matter if she was painting her nails or not. There are way too many people who treat motorcycles just like a car. As being a rider myself, I hate when drivers tailgate when I'm on my motorcycle or in a four wheel vehicle. They just dont seem to understand that motorcycles can stop FASTER than they can. There should be strict enforcement when it comes to injuring a rider.
Respect must always be given to the motorcycles.
AMEN, Bender. I'm a rider, too. I watched a guy go right through a red light this afternoon. He was texting, as he passed me while I was stopping for the red light.
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