Court Message to Distracted Drivers: 21 Months in Fatal Texting Case
Phillipa Curtis had a blood-alcohol level of zero when she rear-ended a disabled neon-yellow Fiat parked at the side of the narrow roadway. But the 22-year-old was sentenced to 21 months in a high-security prison for causing a fatal accident after the evidence showed that she had sent multiple text messages while driving.
Some argue that the sentence imposed on Curtis earlier this year for the 2007 accident that killed 24-year-old Victoria McBryde was too harsh. Others say the British Crown Court was too lenient, reports the New York Times.
“She came across as a lovely young girl, and I’m sure it wasn’t a nice feeling for the judge to send someone like this to prison—but someone is dead because of a text message,” says police officer Bill Sykes. He both responded to the crash and was in charge of the accident investigation.
Earlier related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Office Life in the Fast Lane Leads to Litigation, Company Bans”
ABAJournal.com: “Ignoring the Perils of Driving and Talking? You May Be Addicted, Prof Says”
