Cycling Cell Phone Tragedy Yields $5Mil Verdict
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (derailedonline.com) - Over two years ago in Lancaster County, South Carolina two cyclist were hit and killed by a driver of a car that was distracted using a cell phone. The driver of that car, Sharon King, was convicted of killing 49-year-old Thomas Hoskins and 43-year-old Lee Anne Barry.
The fatal accident left Hoskins, Sherri Hoskins, wife a widow and their kids fatherless.
The cell phone was identified as the causing factor for the accident and in a U.S. Federal Court case the judge has awarded an almost $5million settlement to the family of Hoskins for damages and legal fees. The case for Lee Anne Barry was settled in state court with that settlement being for $2.5million.
Ms. King had admitted that she was distracted while operating the car. The combination of the vehicle, cell phone distraction, and bicycles on the road combined to create an unfortunate deadly scenario that unfolded.
In the last couple yeas, many state in the US have put bans on certain cell phone usage while operating a car. Rhode Island was the most recent by enacting a ban on text messaging while driving.
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Posted on Feb 19, 2010 17:50:55 -0400 by Brady.