Should person who sends driver a text be blamed for a crash?

Mobile devices

We adore our mobile devices. But a New Jersey court case underscores the dangers of texting and driving. (Bloomberg News / May 24, 2012)

We all know we're not supposed to text and drive. But what about texting with someone else when that person is texting and driving?

A tragic case being heard in a New Jersey courtroom on Friday is testing the limits of such responsibility in a potentially precedent-setting case. It's also serving as a cautionary tale about the sometimes irresistible lure of our mobile devices.

Here's what happened, according to local coverage of the high-profile case in the New Jersey Star-Ledger and the Daily Record:

David and Linda Kubert were out on theirHarley-Davidsonon Sept. 21, 2009, enjoying a winding Morris County road. That's when they saw, Kyle Best, 19, driving a pickup truck headed in their direction. In the final seconds before impact, the couple could see he had his elbows -- not his hands -- on the steering wheel, and his face was peering down.

Authorities would later determine that Best was using his cellphone to text with his girlfriend, Shannon Colonna. Best pleaded guilty earlier this year to three traffic citations and was ordered to pay $775 and speak at 14 schools about the dangers of texting and driving. His driver's license was not suspended.

That's a slap on the wrist, as far as the Kuberts are concerned.

The Kuberts, both 56, each lost their left legs in the crash. They have endured multiple surgeries and medical costs. They have also become crusaders working with state legislators to beef up punishment for drivers who text from behind the wheel.

But it's their legal action that is raising eyebrows: They are suing both Best and Colonna. The attorney for the Kuberts, Stephen Weinstein, says that Colonna -- who was also 19 at the time -- aided and abetted Best’s negligence by texting him when she knew or should have known he was driving.

No surprise, but Colonna’s lawyer, Joseph McGlone, disagrees. "It’s not fair. It’s not reasonable. Shannon Colonna has no way to control when Kyle Best is going to read that message," McGlone told the Daily Record.

McGlone has asked Morris County Superior Court Judge David Rand to dismiss Colonna from the case. Rand has indicated he will issue his decision on Friday in the case with implications far beyond his courtroom.

Join Rene Lynch on Google+, Facebook or Twitter. Email: rene.lynch@latimes.com

Views: 62

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by Nikki on May 24, 2012 at 7:45pm

I really feel sorry for the Kuberts but it's all Best's fault.  He did not have to answer her texts while he was driving.

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Sandy posted a video

Civalyze meme

meme ad for a fake drug that would do away with black fatiguecivilyze you're not racist your just exhausted
35 minutes ago
Burbia posted a blog post

Is the Timing of Alex Jones and Charlie Sheen Connected?

Alex Jones is sperging out.Charlie Sheen is coming out of the closet.Is this why Alex Jones is…See More
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Buying the Last haunted House on the Left (A partial autobiography)

Note to the reader, there are events here that are true and some that are fictional.Chapter IIt was…See More
Friday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

In Memory of Those Who Served

 Bullets flew and ricochetedI was on that hill todayMy Company commander got blown awayI was on…See More
Thursday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Tuesday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"cheeki kea I was wrong Emperor Penguins are big and powerful but still alive but this,  A size…"
Tuesday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"Cheeki kea here's another that they say there have been modern sightings of!  The name of…"
Tuesday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"cheeki kea, did you ever hear of the giant Imperial Penguins? They were about 6 feet tall and could…"
Tuesday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"cheeki kea I do not think these giant two legged birds would need to have a bad attitude as long as…"
Tuesday
Olivia Brooks updated their profile
Tuesday
John Miller was featured
Sep 2
tjdavis's 2 blog posts were featured
Sep 2
Zfort Group's blog post was featured
Sep 2
Doc Vega's 6 blog posts were featured
Sep 2
Burbia commented on tjdavis's video
Thumbnail

“What’s His Motive?” - Inside The Mind of George Soros

"Trump calls for George Soros and son to face federal…"
Sep 1
Burbia commented on tjdavis's photo
Sep 1
Profile IconSeeta Sathe and Olivia Brooks joined 12160 Social Network
Sep 1
tjdavis posted a video

Mossad, Terrifying CIA Technology, Blackwater & The Most Secret CIA Unit | John Kiriakou

John Kiriakou served 15 years in the CIA as a Case Officer (Spy) and as CIA's Head of Counterterrorism Operations in Pakistan where he lead the raid that cap...
Sep 1
tjdavis posted a photo
Sep 1
tjdavis posted a video

A Critique of the Tavistock Institute - The Mother Of All Conspiracy Theories

An examination of the Tavistock Institute, a theory which seeks to explain how Western societies have been brainwashed by a cabal of social scientists and th...
Aug 31

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted