Slush Pile: Driver Killed In Highway Crash Was

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Driver Killed In Highway Crash Was

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Channel3000.com Authorities: Driver Killed In Highway Crash Was Texting

1 Killed In Semi Vs. Car Crash On Highway 51

Updated: 12:39 pm CST March 12,2010

MADISON, Wis. -- The Dane County Sheriff's Office said Thursday that detectives have determined inattentive driving was a contributing factor in a fatal car versus semitrailer crash in the town of Burke Tuesday night.

Sheriff's officials said evidence indicates the deceased victim, Kathy A. Endsley, 51 of Baraboo, was text messaging at the time of the crash.

Authorities responded to the intersection of Highway 51 and Token Creek Lane for the crash just before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Sheriff's officials said the semitrailer was pulling off of Token Creek Lane onto Highway 51, and that while in the northbound lane of Highway 51, a collision occurred between the semitrailer a northbound car.

Endsley, the driver of the car and lone occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Embed CodeSave & ShareMore Videos "Based on some evidence that was found at the crash scene we did think that it was worthwhile to look into cell phone records, and they found that she was text messaging," said Elise Schaffer, spokeswoman for the Dane County Sheriff's Department.

The driver of the semitrailer was not injured in the crash.

Authorities said the investigation of the crash remains open pending toxicology results from the State Crime Lab.

Sheriff's officials said texting while driving is just one type of inattentive driving. The Dane County Sheriff's Office said it wants to remind motorists to give driving their full attention.

"I think anybody that's been touched by something like this or has experienced something like this in their family will say that nothing's more important that you can't wait until you're stopped to send that text message or to make that phone call. It can wait; your life is more important than that," Schaffer said.

Currently, there are two different texting while driving bills circulating in the Wisconsin Legislature. The Senate and Assembly each passed a bill.

There are small differences between the two bills. The Assembly bill prohibits texting while engaged in driving and has tough penalties. The Senate bill prohibits texting while operating a vehicle, even if it's not in motion, and applies only to drivers 18 and under.

Lawmakers supporting the bills said that texting while driving is a trend among every age group that needs to be stopped.

"We've heard from law enforcement personnel. We've heard from automobile manufacturers. We've heard from a wide range of highway safety individuals that the time is just way overdue for Wisconsin to ban this type of behavior," said Rep. Peter Barca, sponsor of the Assembly bill.

"It's not so much in the punishment. It's in the information in the education. We have to educate this is a terrible habit and do everything we can to stop it," said Sen. Alan Lasee, sponsor of the Senate bill.

Barca's bill passed the Assembly unanimously. It needs to be taken up in the Senate.

The Senate version passed in October of last year. With only a few days left in the legislative session, it's not clear if either bill will survive or move forward as a law.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2008 nearly 6,000 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes where inattentive driving, including text messaging, was a factor.

Previous Stories:

•March 10, 2010: 1 Killed In Semi Vs. Car Crash On Highway 51

Submitted on 03/15/2010

Submitted by: dbeauchamp@uwbookstore.com
Reference: www.channel3000.com 3/12/2010

>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
Thanks, but distracted driving is simply way too common.

Candi said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
What Bruce said. Check out the April 2010 Reader's Digest for a list of the most common driving distractions.

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Driver Killed In Highway Crash Was

2010 Reader Submission Pending Acceptance

2010 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance