News
Vancouver Driver Convicted of Vehicular Homicide in Death of Cyclist
The man was found guilty and given 5 years in prison.
February 12, 2010
Vancouver, Wash. - In what’s believed to be Washington State’s first vehicular homicide conviction due to text-messaging, a Clark County judge sentenced Antonio Cellestine to 5 years in prison for the hit-and-run death of cyclist Gordon Patterson.
In September 2009, Patterson, a teacher, was cycling home from school in a bike lane when he was hit from behind by Cellestine’s car. Cellestine then sped away from the crash scene. Subpoenaed cell phone records show he had sent and received text messages at the time of the collision.
Recognizing the danger of texting and handheld cell phone use while driving, the Bicycle Alliance is working to pass a bill that will make this act a primary offense. The bill cleared the Senate last week.
“How many more deaths will it take before we do the right thing?” asked Alliance executive director Barbara Culp. “Texting and talking on cell phones while driving is as dangerous as driving drunk.”
This case has been closely watched by cyclists in Washington and Oregon. Read an article about this from The Columbian. This was also followed in the Bike Portland blog.
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