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Calling for wholesale change in societal views on the public health epidemic of distracted driving, a Le Sueur County judge sentenced a New Prague woman to community service, probation and four days in jail in the death a year ago of a 79-year-old school bus driver.
"You are a gifted teacher; use that gift," Judge Mark Vandelist said to Susan Ann Russo, seated at the defendant's table in a quiet courtroom filled with a couple dozen friends and family members of both the late Joseph Tikalsky and Russo.
The judge encouraged Russo because he hoped she would become a force for change after the "absolute tragic consequence" of her distracted driving — likely while texting.
Russo, 48, struck and killed Tikalsky on Oct. 28 as he collected his morning newspaper from a box on the road in front of his home. Tikalsky was wearing a reflective jacket at the time and was on break from his work as a school bus driver, a job he didn't need but continued because he loved being with kids.
I've forgotten, how many times more dangerous it is for texting while driving compared to drunk driving? 6 X more dangerous? 8 X more dangerous?
And the police, they're so tunnel-focused on DUI's. One reason it's a big revenue generator, and they have the technological capability to determine it.
No technology available yet to decipher sleep-deprived drivers, as dangerous as texters and drunk drivers!
I think that her legal troubles are FARRR from over, even after minimal time behind bars as I'm willing to bet the farm that his estate will clean out all of her assets handsomely in the upcoming civil suit, above and beyond whatever liability coverage she had on her auto insurance.
Not that it brings him back of course, but a strong message must be sent via civil court, since the criminal court obviously has given nothing but a slap on the wrist.
I think that her legal troubles are FARRR from over, even after minimal time behind bars as I'm willing to bet the farm that his estate will clean out all of her assets handsomely in the upcoming civil suit, above and beyond whatever liability coverage she had on her auto insurance.
Not that it brings him back of course, but a strong message must be sent via civil court, since the criminal court obviously has given nothing but a slap on the wrist.
True.
I've had 3 friends\co-workers rear ended by texting drivers so far this year.
Idiot today on my way to work swerving all over the road was texting, could see the phone in his hand. The number generally ranges from about 1-5 people I see driving distracted each day on my way to work over a 15minute drive. That's not people talking on cell phones etc. but people that I happen to notice swerving or otherwise driving poorly that have a cell phone or tablet etc. in plain sight.
I remember about a year a go a lady with a tablet on her steering wheel...yep, she rear-ended a guy in the classic traffic starts to move then stops scenario.
Insurance rates will hopefully teach them a lesson.
I've had 3 friends\co-workers rear ended by texting drivers so far this year.
Idiot today on my way to work swerving all over the road was texting, could see the phone in his hand. The number generally ranges from about 1-5 people I see driving distracted each day on my way to work over a 15minute drive. That's not people talking on cell phones etc. but people that I happen to notice swerving or otherwise driving poorly that have a cell phone or tablet etc. in plain sight.
I remember about a year a go a lady with a tablet on her steering wheel...yep, she rear-ended a guy in the classic traffic starts to move then stops scenario.
Insurance rates will hopefully teach them a lesson.
The problem with that is, that it won't be just her rates that go up, but everyone else's too.
Anyone else think she would have been given a much harsher sentence had she been a man?
No.
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