BELFAST, Maine — A Bangor woman who allegedly was texting while driving Wednesday afternoon triggered a two-vehicle crash on Route 1 that sent two people to the hospital.
Jennifer G. Wright, 32, evidently was checking her messages behind the wheel about 4:10 p.m. and didn’t see a garbage truck that had stopped to make a turn into a business on the coastal thoroughfare, according to Belfast police reports.
“She ran right into the back of it,” said Detective Sgt. Bryan Cunningham of the Belfast Police Department.
Wright’s 2005 Toyota Avalon was essentially totaled, he said. It was unknown how much damage was done to the truck.
Wright and the truck driver both were taken to Waldo County General Hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries, he said. Wright’s condition was not immediately available Thursday.
Wright was issued a summons for texting while operating a motor vehicle, which comes with a $135 fine.
It never fails: I pull up next to a car at a red light. Usually it’s a young woman driving. She’s texting away madly, then senses that she is being watched and quickly puts the phone down. A few seconds later she starts twitching………”must text……must text……..” And sure enough, she slowly reaches over and PICKS THE PHONE BACK UP!!
It is cases like these I would love to have nothing more then a cell phone jammer.
Yeah there ya go jam the phone up so that they try and figure out why the heck the phone isnt working, AS THEY ARE DRIVING. Still would be distracted driving. Just sayin
Do it at the stop light….then when the light is green people can honk their horn and they might hear people yelling “Put the phone down” while the driver is clueless why their phone is not working.
Ok am I getting this right? You say to check your phone at a stoplight? Where I see the first few comments are about people texting at stop lights and are COMPLAINING so instead it’s ok to check and see why your phone may be jammed while at the light? At least if you are stopped at a light then you arent physically driving down the road. Oh that also means that while at a light and someone is textin people could also yell put down your phone.
You’d never catch my dog texting while riding.
No thumbs.
Smart dog.
Should have some jail time that might stop some but I dout it could try it and see what happens after they spent some time in jail it might help or do some work in there town
She is lucky to be alive. I do not even use my cell phone when I am driving. It frustrates my friends when they call me while I am on the road. But I would rather wait to use the phone till I am safely parked somewhere. Texting is even more out of the question as far as I am concerned. It is a shame that she had to total her car to learn why texting and driving don’t mix.
too bad there isn’t a fine for stupidity.
State Lottery.
This story is just gonna repeat over and over until all cars have automatic breaking or drivers can communicate without a device. Phones have out-done drunks when it comes to endangering the public on the roadways.
Agreed , I ride a motorcycle and try to drive extra cautiously lately. Ride like someone’s out to get you !
$135 is not enough. I ride cycles and one Jennifer or any other texter is all that it will take, smush.
OTOH, I wonder if I’ve read a text while driving?
The fine just went up to $250… not that it’s going to stop anyone.
Cars ought to have cell phone blocks….there are buildings with these…..
And if there’s an emergency?
“And if There’s an emergency?”
Pull over, stop & make the call to 911. It doesn’t take rocket science to figure that out.
First offense should be $1,000 and a 30 day vacation from driving. Second offense, $2,000 and 6 month suspension. Maybe that will get the attention of those that think social media is a greater responsibility than careful driving.
Absolutely! To me there’s no difference between driving while impaired by drugs/alcohol and driving while not watching the road. I wonder how many people are going to have to die before the government will get serious about doing something about this?
Couldn’t agree more. I can’t believe how many people I see on the road staring at their laps.
I know! Just a few months ago my husband and I were driving down the road and was about to go around a corner when out of nowhere some nimrod (who was texting) shot out around the corner and was way over into our lane. My husband was almost at the point of having to run our truck into the ditch to avoid a head-on collision when the dummass finally looked up. He dropped his device, grabbed his steering wheel and yanked it hard to get himself over into his lane with barely an inch to spare. It scared the hell out of my husband and I.
The government won’t enforce laws against this because that would cost the phone/texting companies revenue. The GOP at work!
Nah… It’s the DUMOCRATS that will say it’s OKAY to endanger everyone else because to prevent people from texting instead of paying attention to where they are aiming their 5,000 pound missile would be denying them their rights!
I agree! $135?????Thats nothing!!
I believe the new law raising the fine to $250. took effect yesterday ! I also think it’s about time that phone / car companies install a device on cars or phones that render them useless when used together !
So a passenger can’t use his/hers?
Community service would Be more beneficial. The fines only hurt the people that dont have much money…the wealthy, won’t learn a thing. However, you have some one out along side the road picking up trash, humiliation is a wonderful deterrent. Oh…and make sure their photos scrubbing headstones or picking up garbage is plastered on Facebook
How old are you, 10?
Old enough to know better than to make a ridiculous stereotype regarding gender…..
I’m a female and I absolutely agree. You don’t see many men obsessing over gossip and constantly having to check their phones. It’s only a stereotype because it’s partially based in truth. All you can do, as a coherent, intelligent female (presumably) is to NOT text while you’re driving and try to help break the stereotype. Getting angry just makes you look like you’re being defensive.
Here are some Stats about gender:
Insurance company AAMI has found some interesting statistics in a recent 2010 survey of more than 2,000 drivers.
– 55 per cent of men – 30 per cent of women – drink drive.
– 47 per cent of men – 38 per cent of women – have rudely gestured at other drivers.
– 84 per cent of men – 77 per cent of women – have crashed their vehicle,
– 51 per cent of men – 40 per cent of women – have been distracted by billboards while driving
– 46 per cent of men – 36 per cent of woman – admitted to verbally abusing another driver.
– 22 per cent of men – 15 per cent of women – admitted to using their mobile phones without hands-free accessories while driving.
So you can see from the survey that things are not looking that great for men, but do all those statistics make women better drivers?
“Our claims data shows that men’s crashes tend to be more serious than women’s, they are more likely to be involved in head-on collisions, roll-overs and loss-of-control crashes, as well as crashes involving pedestrians, cyclists and animals.” AAMI spokesman Geoff Hughes said.
Violations for which men scored at least 50 percent higher than women:
TYPE OF VIOLATIONRATIO M:F
Reckless driving3.41
DUI3.09
Seatbelt violations3.08
Speeding1.75
Failure to yield1.54
Stop sign/signal violation1.53
Some researchers believe the explanation is to be found hormones related to aggessiveness, others put more emphasis on data such as the measurebly greater alcohol use among men while driving.
So Are Women Better Drivers Than Men?
Many auto insurance industry experts would agree with the theory that men, especially young men, tend to drive more aggressively than women and display their aggression in a direct manner, rather than indirectly. Furthermore, as a rule of thumb, male drivers are more likely than women to break the law, and the male of the species tends to be more of a risk-taker.
its true, hormones are responsible for behavior, such as: testerone causes aggresiveness, estrogen causes TEXTING.
Yes because clearly there is a hormonal link between estrogen and texting…..just like your moniker name is an oxymoron. Duh.
I think the key here is the phrase “admit to” . My friends teenage daughter claims not to text while driving…. but I’ve seen her.
I once witnessed the results of an head on side swipe accident on Union St. Two groups of teens one male the other female, standing next to their respective vehicles all 4 kids madly texting.
I don’t text and drive…my husband does …..last I knew I was a female…and he was a male. There goes your theory of gender stereotyping
You’ve made your share of stereotypes. You’re not a newcomer out here.
Oh Warren……sweetie…. in order to attempt to insult someone….that someone must first value your opinion…..try again honey try again.
I won’t have to. You’ll make the point for me.
Interesting comment coming from such a narrow minded homophobe. LOL
And a boring one, coming from an anonymous person.
What makes you think I am afraid of homosexuals? Is it because I might, on occasion, disagree with one? If I disagree with a heterosexual on a matter, why don’t you call me a heterophobe?
Warren….do I REALLY need to explain the difference to you? By all means cite all the horrible things that happen to the heterosexuals in this country simply because they are heterosexual- go ahead and I will wait while you gather you invisible list and then I will inundate you with citations regarding all the homophobic crap and stereotypes that take place all over this country- simply because someone is not heterosexual.
Your question makes about as much sense as saying that in the 1960’s a white person who did not like black people (or other people of differing races) was somehow able to be persecuted for being white by other none white races….REALLY Warren? Is that how you think the 60’s went down? Didn’t work that way and it doesn’t work that way now with LGBT rights.
We were on the subject of stereotyping. How many stereotypes do you make? As I said, you’d make my point for me.
You ought to quit before you get farther behind than you already are.
Also, why not post under your name? I let people have at me, and don’t hide behind a moniker.
Have a great day.
Dear BDN: Did she really do it, or did she “allegedly do it” your title and story condridict each other.
They have to say “allegedly” until she pleads guilty or goes to court and is found guilty,
It is part of OUR Constitution that says we are innocent until proven guilty, not that it is observed very much now a days, especially by OUR Government.
But they already published she has been cited and in the headline stated officials are saying she did it, so officials are not allegedly claiming she did it, if she is protected by the constitution the headline should confirm the officials are allegedly accusing her of running into the dump truck while texting even though it was her in the car that crashed into the dump truck.
She has been cited but not convicted ………………………… thus alleged
HAA HAA HAA HAA HAA HOPE SHE GETS HUGE SURCHARGE idjiot glad my son is not little anymore with these me me jerks on the road
illegalsout is spot on whether you like it or not.
I drive a lot and witness way more texting/driving behavior from females as opposed to males.
Like the girl the other night that did a northbound merge from I-395 onto I-95 and never looked up, not even after the alert Wal-Mart driver swerved his 18 wheeler into the passing lane to miss her sorry a**. Was STILL texting going 45 mph when we got up beside her.
Scares me to death these people……
Texting while driving must be a new form of extreme sport. Maybe we should require these texing enthusiasts to were helmets.
Ya.
But what about the rest of us ???
This will sound stupid to some, but I really believe people become psychologically addicted to their cell phones. Where I work, no matter how many times you tell people to leave their phones in their lockers, they either have them in their pockets or are sneaking away checking their phones. It would be laughable if it weren’t so disturbing.
The whole story is that she was drving, eating, thinking about what’s for dindins, fantasizing about Def Leppard,counting her chickens, doing her nails, reading People mag, etc
HEY BDN—Effective today Certain penalties for driving violations also are going up. The minimum fine for texting while driving is now $250, up from $100. That change applies to all drivers.
Wow! That’s 2 accidents in about as many days involving people going into turning garbage trucks. They must be dangerous!
Get over it… that’s the way it is.
Well, one sure thing, you’ll never be hung for having too many brains . Will ya Joe?
Arrrgh! I may look down at my phone at a red light while I’m waiting to see if there are any messages but I certainly don’t respond if there are nor do I talk on the phone while driving….to me it’s common sense….wake up people…it’s a no brainah!
I guess that $135 will teach her a lesson she’ll never forget!!! There is no need for texting, do away with the mode, voice is fine!!
opps
Perhaps $135 is not enough of a fine. Unfortunately I see texting from both genders constantly.
Almost killed two days ago by someone on there phone. Someone blew right threw a stop sign. A very OBVIOUS stop sign. Thank god I saw her cuz if I didn’t she could have killed me. She didn’t even slow down one bit. And she didn’t even notice that she had done anything wrong. Thank god I didn’t have my children with me at the time. I hate people who say “I’AM GOOD” at texting and driving or talking on the phone while driving. They may be”GOOD” at it but what if the one time there not “GOOD”at it, they kill me and my family. All because they were to busy to pull over to talk or text. Or hey why not just not talk or text at all, while driving!!
Sounds like a good idea to me as well as my family!
You can’t fix STUPID but you can fine her and with any luck take her license after enough infractions.
I refuse to text period! First it takes up too many cell minutes and second, if it is that important, either call me or send an e/mail. Too many people I have followed are all over the road trying to drive with their knees and constantly texting. I wont even pick up my phone when driving. And third, the keyboard is too small for an old fart like me to see.
It’s going to get to a point where the insurance companies are going to say..if you are breaking the law and accident occurs, we’re not going to pay for it.
I hope she recovers and I hope she learned a valuable lesson…DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE! I don’t appreciate sharing the roads with these folks
Reading all these comments on here and wondering how many people are plain lying about this whole issue. I am sure behind a computer they say “I dont text and drive” or “I dont talk on my phone and drive” but really do! Ill bet that there is more then not.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but if I say that I don’t do something, then I don’t. I think it is dangerous and stupid to use cell phones for any reason while driving. In fact, I enjoy driving without being reachable at times.
Driving around in a large store’s parking lot is so treacherous now.Zombies,staring at their phones,walk out into traffic,paying absolutely no heed to what is going on around them..Losers..
first offense 90 day loss of license, $500 fine. second offense 1 year loss of license and 10 days in jail. I bet penalties like that would end the texting. I for one, am sick of sitting still at a green light while someone sits there and finishes their text message. It should be legal to bump a texter at a light.
She can’t blame anyone else but herself. She was doing something that’s been illegal in this state for a while and she slammed into the back of a garbage truck. She has herself to blame for totalling her car due to texting while driving. This is the reason why it’s illegal, because driver inattention is often dangerous.
Failure to control your vehicle was illegal way before texting while driving was.
Yup.
I told my daughter, who’s learning to drive, I approach every blind corner or bend in the road making sure I have enough time to brake or swerve assuming a logging truck, over-tired driver, text-er or drunk is gonna suddenly appear in my lane on Maine’s back roads since this happens more times than most people can count. My luck will run out when I encounter that drunk, over-tired, logging truck driver speeding around the corner while texting I know is out there though…
I have a lot to say about this as I drive home, but … WHOA, LOOK OUT!!
Now I’d better call my friend to tell her what just happened!
S-T-U-P-I-D
What about the female drivers that talk/text on the phone with kids in the back seat??? I had this happen tonight on the interstate, she goes flying by me, well above the speed limit using her left hand to hold the phone up to her right ear, as she uses the right hand to pass something to a kid in the back seat. She was looking behind her and not even holding onto the steering wheel. I just wished I had been a police officer off duty or undercover.
It has nothing to do with gender though, guys still talk and text while driving. Just like females put on make up guys shave while driving.
texting and driving about as smart as driving a motorcycle without a helmet. hmmmm. lol i love this state. look it doesn’t matter what you do in your car, some people have a dog in there lap is that against the law? is that not a distraction? or how about the kids in the back seat screaming at each other ? distraction? people are gonna do what they want to do , some will crash and live some will crash and die. when are people gonna learn its not up to us? when its your time its your time. wear a helmet don’t where a helmet , wear a seat belt dont wear a seat belt. people die in crashes wearing seat belts, people live in crashes not wearing a helmet. people will live texting people will die texting. prepare for the worst and hope for the best. im out.
In honor of being incredibly lucky while also being a dumb butt, LOL. :)
It’s going to be just like Fahrenheit 451 soon enough.
LOL, Love it, Have you noticed people are starting to walk around with their hand up to their ears even when they aren’t even holding a phone or all hunched over with their thumbs twitching and nothing in their hands?
Won’t have to worry about her being a danger for awhile, she wrecked her car.
As of yesterday, it’s supposed to be a $250 fine. She should also be responsible for paying for all damages caused in the accident.
YOU JUST CAN’T FIX STUPID
…..maybe she needs to get a smart phone……
i text, check facebook and occasionally watch videos on youtube…but then again i live in the piscataquis county and there aren’t any cops to speak of let alone traffic
The comment section of BDN is a silly place. Meeting of the minds, for sure.
“Hey girl, what’s up?” “Not much, just plowing into the back of a garbage truck”
I can’t believe people do this! Numb.
Easy fix, have manufacturers install a cell phone jammer that is actuated when the vehicle is in gear. It will happen, it’s just that several hundred innocent people will have to be killed first, but it will happen.
Perhaps, along with stiffer penalties, the insurance companies can disallow the claim of the person texting. Then they would have to pay to replace or repair their car out of their own pocket. Don’t forget the lawsuit, for causing the accident, that will no doubt come as well.
I don’t hope to see this scenario play out, but I’m guessing it will, sooner rather than later: 16 yr. old student, while texting and driving, strikes child running into the street after a ball. Child dies. What then, $135 fine? The driver in this story, 2 X 16, but no more responsible, is fortunate what she struck was a garbage truck. I’ll bet, though, she has learned her lesson.