This made a big impression on me

I find that I can't get this story out of my head. The driver who caused the accident did not die, but the other driver did. How many times have I been distracted enough, by my phone or the kids, to cross the line just enough? Too, too disturbing.

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Police suspect driver in fatal accident was on phone
Crash kills Clay man
Wednesday, September 19, 2007

A man talking on a cell phone may have been the cause of a fatal two-vehicle crash Tuesday on Morgan Road, in Clay, the Onondaga County sheriff said. The crash killed John F. Coughlin, 64, of Horseshoe Island Road, Clay, deputies said. The other driver, Christopher Lane, 28, of West Genesee Street, Syracuse, was in fair condition Tuesday night at University Hospital. Neither vehicle had passengers.

Just before 1:30 p.m., Lane was southbound on Morgan Road when he crossed the center line on a curve, just south of Oak Orchard Road, deputies said. His 2007 Hyundai Elantra clipped Coughlin's northbound 2000 Chevrolet Blazer, forcing the Blazer to flip once and land on its roof, Sheriff Kevin Walsh said. Coughlin was pinned in his truck and pronounced dead shortly after the ambulance arrived, Walsh said. The Elantra continued south onto the front lawn of 8840 Morgan Road. The car struck a tree broadside on the passenger's side, then spun before coming to rest against the porch on the south side of the house.

"We have reason to believe the driver of the sedan was on a cell phone," Walsh said of Lane. "It appears the sedan crossed over the double line on the curve."

Talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving is prohibited, according to state vehicle and traffic laws. Witnesses said both cars appear to have been traveling at a normal rate of speed, Walsh said.