Deputies believe a Deltona, Florida woman was killed, and her brother was injured, by a distracted driver who drove up on the sidewalk where they were walking their dog.
The crash occurred around noon on Sunday, April 2, 2023 in the city of Deltona.
Reports indicate that the driver, a 67-year-old man, driving a BMW convertible became distracted after a bag fell between his legs.
Deputies allege that when he reached down to retrieve the bag, he swerved across the center line, cruised through the opposite lane of traffic, and ultimately landed upon the sidewalk. He hit both the woman and her brother.
The convertible came to a stop after striking a large rock.
The woman, 68, was pronounced dead at the scene. The brother, 55, was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition.
The dog was not harmed, according to reports.
The driver of the convertible was not harmed, but a passenger in the vehicle suffered minor injuries, according to reports.
It is not believed at this time that the man was operating his vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Charges are pending while an investigation into the crash continues.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Our Florida Car Accident Injury and Wrongful Death Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want to make sure you are doing everything you can to not fall victim to distractions when behind the wheel. Staying focused to keeping your eyes on the road in front of you is the key to arriving to your destination safely.
Below you will find 10 Tips for Preventing Distractions while Driving:
- If you cannot focus all your attention to driving because of another activity (texting, eating a sandwich, drinking a coffee, etc.), then this is a distraction. It is best to take care of this before you leave or after you arrive to wherever you are going, not while you are driving.
- If while driving, another activity demands your attention (your child’s school calls and needs to speak with you, your boss needs to go over something, you are lost and need to use GPS to figure out where you are, etc.), then pull over to a safe spot and handle your matter, but do not attempt to do so while driving.
If you have passengers with you that can help limit distractions, then utilize their assistance. Make them your designated caller/texter/navigator.- Put away your electronic devices that could tempt you so that they are not in reaching distance. You should never text, scroll through social media, play video games, etc. while driving. Place your devices in the trunk, back seat, glove box, or anywhere else that you will not be able to get to them until you reach your destination.
- Children and pets in the car can be a distraction. If they need your assistance while driving, then pull over to a safe place and park. Reaching in the backseat while you are driving can cause you to lose control of your car and lead to a crash.
- Eat snacks and drink beverages before you head out on a trip. Looking down to grab a snack that fell can lead to a serious collision.
- Finish getting dressed, applying makeup, and all other personal grooming before you head out to wherever you are going.
- Map out your traffic route before you start driving. You should set up GPS and radio dials before hitting the road.
- Keep any items that you need in your car secure so that they are not rolling around on the floor as you may be tempted to reach for them, which can cause you to lose control of your car.
- Keep your full attention on the road in front of you – watch out for other cars, pedestrians, cyclists, children, etc. Some distractions are impossible to avoid while driving, but they must be managed so that you can focus your efforts on driving.
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