A 24-year-old Batavia resident told a deputy he was returning a text message just prior to hitting a car that had stopped in front of him on Route 20 in Darien at 12:50 p.m., Saturday.
The 2003 Dodge pickup driven by Corey Lee Richenberg, of Galloway Road, struck one car in the rear and a second car spun into the oncoming traffic lane where it was struck by 2005 Ford pickup.
The Ford then continued off the road and overturned.
Neither the three drivers nor their passengers were seriously injured.
Richenberg, who was transported by Mercy EMS to UMMC with a general complaint of pain, was cited for allegedly following too closely and failure to maintain lane improper use of a mobile phone.
The driver of the car hit from behind was Christine R. Powell, 61, of Broadway Road, Darien Center. Powell was transported to UMMC by Mercy EMS.
The driver of the Ford that overturned was Gregory E. Fish, 45, of Parkview Drive, Akron. Fish was taken by private vehicle to Millard Fillmore Medical Center the VA medical center.
The accident was investigated by Deputy Chris Parker.
These kids will never learn.
These kids will never learn. I am convinced. Too bad they can not teach the real lessons these people need to learn before they learn them in real life. Not paying attention behind the wheel is potentially a death sentence. And it is usually for someone other than the party who caused the incident.
Why was he not charged with
Why was he not charged with the additional charge of operating a cell phone while driving? This is a moving violation with points and a minimum of a $300 fine. These kids will never learn.
I wondered the same thing.
I wondered the same thing. I'll have to ask Deputy Parker next time I see him. I can only assume it's some evidence-related issue, or it just didn't get listed on the report I received for some reason.
Deputy Chris Parker just
Deputy Chris Parker just called -- when I looked up the VTL number of the second citation I found incorrect information. The second citation was for alleged improper use of a mobile phone. The correction was made to the story.
Give the kid SOME credit..he
Give the kid SOME credit..he admitted to texting while driving and didn't try to BS the police. In my opinion, if someone openly admits their guilt and accepts what's coming to them, that's a step in the right direction for making amends. If you've ever watched COPS, so many people just deny deny deny even when they're caught red handed. It's an insult to any intelligent person.
I applaud the guys honesty,
I applaud the guys honesty, however, the texting (or any cellphone use) while driving, along with everyone being in such a hurry all of the time is very scary. Because of the failure to abide by basic driving laws I predict that we are going to be reading about a lot of accidents and fatalities that include people under 25 y.o. once the real bad winter driving starts. Slow down, pay attention ... and be smart!
All I want to add is this.
All I want to add is this. Remember the five cheerleaders from Rochester area that were all killed in an auto accident? The driver was texting. Texting while driving is considered to be as dangerous as [some say more dangerous than] drunk driving. Luckily no one was seriously injured, but the outcome could have been a lot worse.
OK......one more thing. I wonder what kind of coverage this kid has [had] for insurance? I hope it covers the property loss of the other drivers.
I was sitting in the newsroom
I was sitting in the newsroom at the Daily Messenger in Canandaigua when the call was sent out by emergency dispatch, regarding the accident involving the cheerleaders Janice refers to above. (I was working late because I liked to write about the government meeting I had to cover as soon as it ended, instead of coming in early and writing on deadline.)
Thus, I was among the first to hear dispatchers call emergency responders to the scene -- the fire was "fully involved" and there were believed to be four occupants (later it was determined there were five). It made shivers go up my spine. I knew, as would anyone listening, that they were all doomed.
This accident happened in nearby Victor and the five cheerleaders had recently graduated and were on their way to Keuka Lake for some summer fun at one of the girl's family cabin. The driver is believed to have been texting as she was attempting to go around a slower moving van. She pulled out into the oncoming traffic lane to get ahead of the van when she was struck head on by an 18-wheeler. He had no time to react or brake and his big rig pushed the crushed SUV quite a ways.
The SUV burst into flames, horrifying people who witnessed the tragedy. A couple who had been taking a motorcycle ride in the beautiful evening weather ended up watching five beautiful young women burn alive.
It was an international news story that affected so many students at the high school where the newly minted grads attended, along with family, friends, and the onlookers and poor trucker who'll have to live with that ghastly vision.
Hey kids! What's the big hurry? Why pass up traffic going the speed limit to get someplace 15 minutes early? Why even think of texting or taking on some other distraction while driving?
Use common sense and avoid risky behaviors. And remember not everyone dies in such accidents, they suffer a fate that may seem worse when they are horribly disfigured, maimed, burned or suffer some irreversible brain damage.
Imagine the heavy burden of knowing that you killed perhaps a friend, family member, maybe your own child, or a complete stranger who had their own family and goals and other blessings.
Hey adults! This is ditto for you.