Verdict In Cell Phone Crash

[erickonphoenix]

Original story

Woman Guilty in Fatal Cell Phone Crash
Updated: Friday, 02 Oct 2009, 8:27 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 02 Oct 2009, 2:59 PM CDT

HOUSTON - A 24-year-old woman must wait until at least Monday to learn her fate after a jury found her guilty of criminally negligent homicide because she was talking on a cell phone when she got into a fatal car crash.

Jeri Montgomery was convicted Friday afternoon, nearly a day after the jury began deliberating whether her cell phone use contributed to the March 2008 car accident that killed 25-year-old Chance Wilcox.

Jurors immediately went into the sentencing phase Friday afternoon, but the judge allowed jurors to disband Friday evening. They were ordered to return at 9:30 a.m. Monday to determine Montgomery's punishment.

Montgomery faces between two and 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

The accident took place on Interstate 45, the North Freeway, near FM 2920 when Montgomery's car hit the truck that Wilcox was in and caused it to roll several times, according to the indictment against her.

Wilcox was thrown from the truck and killed.

The indictment against Montgomery says she made an unsafe lane change and failed to be aware of other vehicles on the road. Wilcox's relatives say that investigators told them that Montgomery was trying to balance her steering wheel and cell phone, but Harris County Assistant District Attorney Brent Mayr had neither confirmed nor denied that cell phone use was a factor in the accident.

John Choate, Montgomery's defense attorney said in a statement that "(t)here were no drugs, no alcohol. It was just a wreck. I've heard they'll bring evidence that she was on the phone, but she was not on the phone."

Verdict Reached in Cell Phone Crash Trial | MyFoxHouston.com

A few interesting details about this accident not included in the article. Montgomery was in the right lane and after concluding her telephone call realized she was missing her exit so she shot over to the exit lane where she was rear ended by another vehicle then slammed into the back of Wilcox truck lifting the rear end up and over causing the rollover that ejected him from the vehicle. She did not flee the accident scene.

[erickonphoenix]

30 days

Woman convicted in cell phone crash: I wasn't given a fair chance
09:24 AM CDT on Wednesday, October 7, 2009
By Courtney Zubowski / 11 News
HOUSTON -- The woman convicted of causing a deadly wreck after talking on her cell phone says not a day goes by that she doesn’t think about the night it happened.

11 News Video


Woman convicted in cell phone accident speaks out
October 6, 2009
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Jeri Montgomery is serving a 30-day sentence for negligent homicide in connection with the accident, which happened in March 2008. Chance Wilcox, 25, died in the three-vehicle collision.

“I’m sorry for their loss,” Montgomery said from behind bars. “And I pray that God will heal their hurt.”

The Humble woman says she was on the phone before the accident, but not at the time of the crash. She did admit that the phone call could have contributed to the accident.

The 24-year-old did not want to comment on whether she thought her sentence was fair, but she doesn’t think she received a fair shot in the courtroom.

“I just didn’t think I was given a fair chance. The other car should have been involved because it was a three-car accident,” she said.

The third driver was never charged. Prosecutors say Montgomery swerved in front of him. The driver had no time to react. That driver pushed Montgomery’s car into Wilcox’s car.

“I believe he was speeding and he came out of nowhere,” Montgomery said. "I do believe he was part of the accident, too. Why didn’t he have to be in court? I just feel like I should have been able to present all of my exhibits like the State did.”

Prosecutors say some evidence was legally excluded from the case, because it was ruled inadmissible.

In addition to the 30-day jail sentence, Montgomery was also sentenced to 10 years probation and given a $10,000 fine. She was also ordered to make a $50 donation to Crime Stoppers.

“I’m very sorry for their loss and I never intended for this to happen,” she said. “I pray for their family all the time.”

Woman convicted in cell phone crash: I wasn't given a fair chance | LOCAL NEWS | KHOU.com | News for Houston, Texas

[category4]

I for one will be so happy when then ban the use of cell phones while driving. Everyday I pass someone holding up traffic in the fast lanes yapping away on a cell phone.

This week I passed a girl (on the right) that was in the far left lane in a 65 MPH zone, doing 50-55, talking on a phone while trying to read some paper she had against the steering wheel and drive. She had traffic backed up for almost a mile!!!

Had traffic not been backed up so bad behind her I would have pulled over in front of her and locked the brakes up knowing she was not paying attention. Only the fact I did not want to upset the ride home for 50,000 others kept me from doing so!

[erickonphoenix]

I for one will be so happy when then ban the use of cell phones while driving. Everyday I pass someone holding up traffic in the fast lanes yapping away on a cell phone.

This week I passed a girl (on the right) that was in the far left lane in a 65 MPH zone, doing 50-55, talking on a phone while trying to read some paper she had against the steering wheel and drive. She had traffic backed up for almost a mile!!!

Had traffic not been backed up so bad behind her I would have pulled over in front of her and locked the brakes up knowing she was not paying attention. Only the fact I did not want to upset the ride home for 50,000 others kept me from doing so!

Well, you could do that . . . or just get a CPJ!! They're fun little devices just don't forget and leave one on after you get out of your vette because the little buggers also jam the wireless FOB used on the C6 so you'll be locked out. Ask me how I know.

[partsfreak]

I for one will be so happy when then ban the use of cell phones while driving. Everyday I pass someone holding up traffic in the fast lanes yapping away on a cell phone.

This week I passed a girl (on the right) that was in the far left lane in a 65 MPH zone, doing 50-55, talking on a phone while trying to read some paper she had against the steering wheel and drive. She had traffic backed up for almost a mile!!!

Had traffic not been backed up so bad behind her I would have pulled over in front of her and locked the brakes up knowing she was not paying attention. Only the fact I did not want to upset the ride home for 50,000 others kept me from doing so!

Well, you could do that . . . or just get a CPJ!! They're fun little devices just don't forget and leave one on after you get out of your vette because the little buggers also jam the wireless FOB used on the C6 so you'll be locked out. Ask me how I know.

Where can one procure a CPJ?

[NissanA]

I for one will be so happy when then ban the use of cell phones while driving. Everyday I pass someone holding up traffic in the fast lanes yapping away on a cell phone.

This week I passed a girl (on the right) that was in the far left lane in a 65 MPH zone, doing 50-55, talking on a phone while trying to read some paper she had against the steering wheel and drive. She had traffic backed up for almost a mile!!!

Had traffic not been backed up so bad behind her I would have pulled over in front of her and locked the brakes up knowing she was not paying attention. Only the fact I did not want to upset the ride home for 50,000 others kept me from doing so!

X2

Every car I pass that is driving like crap, is a person yapping away on the phone.

Its worse in Atlanta, I don't know how your nice Corvette is still in one piece..

[Duke]

There don't need to be more laws against cell phones while driving as there are existing laws which already cover people who are being hazards to others and unfortunately they are not enforced. They are not enforced because our law enforcement has a million retarded little laws they can't remember anyway.

Cell phone laws are feel good laws and will solve nothing. So you get a BT headset, you're still distracted by the call. The fact is that MOST people really have no business driving because they aren't coordinated enough. Throw in putting on make-up, eating Burger King, drinking coffee, swatting at the kids in the back seat, putting in a new CD, radios, GPS, or what have you, and the person who barely manages to get that 4700lb SUV missle down the road is now just a ticking time bomb waiting to kill someone.

So yeah, you can make yourself feel better by passing yet another law that is already covered by existing law, but that wont solve the problem. Because the problem is inattentive driving and being a hazard, which is already covered by existing law, but not enforced, not someones pet peeve.


All that said, the lady in the article is a banana-head and needs to be held accountable for her actions.

[Eloi]

Because the problem is inattentive driving and being a hazard, which is already covered by existing law, but not enforced, not someones pet peeve.

Ur so right ....they DO check speed ....easy and lot of $$$$$$ for the state

Over here they banned cell phone but people just continue to use them

My suggestion instead of a law was to obliged the cell providers
to link gps location with cell usage ....even so the final solution
is obliged people to use their brain ... mission impossible !

[category4]

I for one will be so happy when then ban the use of cell phones while driving. Everyday I pass someone holding up traffic in the fast lanes yapping away on a cell phone.

This week I passed a girl (on the right) that was in the far left lane in a 65 MPH zone, doing 50-55, talking on a phone while trying to read some paper she had against the steering wheel and drive. She had traffic backed up for almost a mile!!!

Had traffic not been backed up so bad behind her I would have pulled over in front of her and locked the brakes up knowing she was not paying attention. Only the fact I did not want to upset the ride home for 50,000 others kept me from doing so!

X2

Every car I pass that is driving like crap, is a person yapping away on the phone.

Its worse in Atlanta, I don't know how your nice Corvette is still in one piece..

I never drive the Vette in Atlanta!!! I only take it if I'm leaving Atlanta!!


What range do the CPJ's have? I'm going to have to get one, it should be fun!!!

[swarga]

Woman convicted in cell phone crash: I wasn't given a fair chance

Quick, where's the WAAAAmbulance picture?

Listen, princess, the person you killed wasn't given a fair chance, either.

This sets a great precedent. It's about time we started holding these bimbos accountable for their incompetent, distracted driving. In addition to the jail time, she should lose her license for at least a year. Then while she's riding the bus she can reflect on what her inane cell phone blabbing hath wrought.