Driver painting nails runs red light, kills cyclist

[ShnikeJSB]

Chicago Sun Times link. (http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1557001,CST-NWS-motor04.article)

Yes... THE same Lake Zurich I lived in my entire life. The VERY SAME Rt. 12/Old McHenry Rd. I have stopped at and gone through a thousand times over (my buddy lived just 30 seconds from that intersection). This is why I am ALWAYS checking my mirrors at a stoplight/stopsign. And Timmy can sure tell you to check them too, right? :pout:

People piss me off... That and it scares the crap outta me being so close to home! Guys, PLEASE do me afavor and check those mirrors at a stop!


Driver painting nails runs red light, kills cyclist: cops
LAKE ZURICH | Woman issued traffic citation, charges expected
Comments

May 4, 2009

A motorcyclist died Saturday near far northwest suburban Lake Zurich after being hit by a female motorist who allegedly drove through a red light while painting her fingernails, authorities said.

Anita Zaffke, 56, of the 1500 block of Eddy Lane in Lake Zurich, died after suffering apparent chest and abdominal injuries from being thrown 200 feet from her bike about 5:30 p.m. at U.S. 12 at Old McHenry Rd., said Lake County's coroner, Dr. Richard Keller.

Zaffke was stopped at a red light when a Chevy Impala, driven by a woman in her 40s, struck her from behind, said Lake County sheriff's police Sgt. Scott Morrison. Zaffke was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, officials said.

Keller said the motorist told police she was painting her fingernails at the time of the crash and did not notice the light was red.

The woman, whom police did not identify Sunday night, was cited with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, Morrison said. She also was hospitalized after the crash for non-life-threatening injuries.

"The investigation is ongoing, but there should be charges against the woman in the very near future," Morrison said.

Tina Sfondeles

[Scooter Scott]

Yup, I see them all the time. Me leaving PWTA in west Ft. Lauderdale heading in to the East where all the boats are. A ton of people work in the downtown area and I see the yuppie bitches doing one or all of the following.
1. Schmering on makeup
2. Eating/ drinking coffee
3. Talking on cellphone
I was on the way to work a couple of weeks ago and saw one that beats all. The airhead was so busy with her makeup that she was steering with her knees. I had to watch as this exercise hiked her skirt up to her waist and BINGO, no knickers.

[ShnikeJSB]

Yup, I see them all the time. Me leaving PWTA in west Ft. Lauderdale heading in to the East where all the boats are. A ton of people work in the downtown area and I see the yuppie bitches doing one or all of the following.
1. Schmering on makeup
2. Eating/ drinking coffee
3. Talking on cellphone
I was on the way to work a couple of weeks ago and saw one that beats all. The airhead was so busy with her makeup that she was steering with her knees. I had to watch as this exercise hiked her skirt up to her waist and BINGO, no knickers.

Potential plus to that I guess with the skirt... LOL! :rofl3:

But my DAD is one of the worst drivers I've ever seen... He effing READS THE NEWSPAPER while driving with his knees when driving... I refuse to ride in the car with him. :nod:

[ShnikeJSB]

I was surprised to just glance at the Daily Herald sitting on the counter, and saw that they were talking about this stupid bitch again. I grabbed 2 more updated articles from today on DailyHerald.com. Check them out here - "Charges for woman who police say fatally struck biker while doing nails" (http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=321969&src=61) and "Driver accused of painting nails in fatal wreck surrenders" (http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=322222&src=61).

For the lazy:

First article:


A driver who authorities say was painting her fingernails when she struck and killed a motorcyclist in Lake County was indicted on Wednesday and charged with reckless homicide.

Lora L. Hunt, 48, of Morris, faces a six-count indictment in connection with the May 2 death of Lake Zurich resident Anita Zaffke. She faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Hunt was driving about 50 mph, under the posted speed limit, when she hit Zaffke's motorcycle at the corner of Rand and Old McHenry roads near Lake Zurich, police said.

In May police said Hunt told them she was painting her nails while driving. But at the time her attorney, Ragan Freitag, said only: "At this point she is really distressed. There are some things she remembers and some things she doesn't."

On Wednesday, Hunt's attorney, Jeff Tomczak, said he was aware of the indictment but hadn't yet read the documents.

Zaffke, 56, was obeying a traffic signal and was stopped at the intersection when she was killed.

Zaffke's widely publicized death prompted a debate about the danger caused by distracted drivers. But Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Mike Mermel said Wednesday Hunt's actions went beyond distracted driving.

He said Hunt was "oblivious" to the safety of the other motorists on the road.

"Distracted driving is ... changing the radio station or yelling at your kids," Mermel said. "(This) was not distracted driving. It's almost intentionally reckless."

In May, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran called Zaffke's death an accident that resulted from a "momentary lapse" of judgment. Mermel bristled at that description.

"This was never an accident," he said.

Hunt initially was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, but the charge was dropped to avoid potential double-jeopardy problems, where she couldn't be tried in a crime she was already convicted or acquitted of, Mermel said.

The grand jury's six-count indictment reflects various aspects of the case, Mermel said.

Bond was set at $100,000 for Hunt. Tomczak said his office is making arrangements for Hunt to surrender.


Second article:


The driver who authorities say was painting her nails when she hit and killed a motorcyclist has turned herself in to Lake County authorities.

Lora L. Hunt, 48, of Morris, was indicted on six counts of reckless homicide by a Lake County grand jury on Wednesday. She surrendered Thursday and was released on $10,000 bail.

Police say Hunt told them shortly after the May 2 accident that she was painting her fingernails as she drove at about 50 mph toward the intersection of Rand and Old McHenry roads, and did not see motorcyclist Anita Zaffke until after she hit her.

Zaffke, 56, of Lake Zurich, was stopped at a traffic signal when she was struck.

Hunt's attorney, Jeff Tomczak, was not immediately available for comment.

Hunt initially was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, but the charge was dropped to avoid potential double-jeopardy problems, where she couldn't be tried in a crime of which she was already convicted or acquitted, officials said.

Hunt faces up to five years in prison if convicted of the reckless homicide charges. She will next appear in court on Oct. 8.


Lawyers are scum... I believe that more and more, when I see quotes like that one -- In May police said Hunt told them she was painting her nails while driving. But at the time her attorney, Ragan Freitag, said only: "At this point she is really distressed. There are some things she remembers and some things she doesn't." Making the bullshit excuses to try and get this dumb bitch murderer off easy by saying "she was distressed" pisses me off to no end... She definitely deserves all 5 of those years... :angry:

There ya go, for those who care.

[Budo]

I'm glad this is actually being pursued legally...

[Faz]

^^^ you thought it wouldnt' be? :-/

[Budo]

^^^ you thought it wouldnt' be? :-/

You're surprised?

How many cases do you think in which a driver kills a motorcyclist successfully gets tried in court? Usually not many...

Driver gets a ticket for failing to obey traffic signs, or maybe failing to reduce speed, etc... and pays a fine. That's what usually happens.

[Marko]

You're surprised?

How many cases do you think in which a driver kills a motorcyclist successfully gets tried in court? Usually not many...

Driver gets a ticket for failing to obey traffic signs, or maybe failing to reduce speed, etc... and pays a fine. That's what usually happens.

It pretty much takes a fatality these days to see anything other than a ticket issued. I remember reading about a case a couple years ago where there was a collision between a cyclist and a car, the cyclist broke his leg and was taken away in ambulance, and both were charged. I don’t remember the particulars but I often get the feeling that the cop can’t figure out the truth and becomes the judge and hedges his bets by charging both.

[triple grrr]

There was a rider killed by a drunk driver nor far from my house last year, or early this year, and she was charged with murder. He was over 50 with several adult kids. I haven't kept up with the case, but our newspaper is usually good at following up. She had a suspended driver's license for DUI, yet continued to drive while intoxicated. She drug the motorcycle for 100 feet while trying to run from the scene. She then got out of her car and started to run also. A good citizen followed her and stopped her to wait for the police. Sad part is she had an 8 year old son, who now is without his mommy. Not as sad as the other family, but children don't deserve bad parents.

[ShnikeJSB]

You're surprised?

How many cases do you think in which a driver kills a motorcyclist successfully gets tried in court? Usually not many...

Driver gets a ticket for failing to obey traffic signs, or maybe failing to reduce speed, etc... and pays a fine. That's what usually happens.

According to one of the articles: "Hunt initially was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, but the charge was dropped to avoid potential double-jeopardy problems, where she couldn't be tried in a crime she was already convicted or acquitted of, Mermel said."

So, yeah... If they upheld the ticket, she could have gotten off scot-free... :pout:

[tripleracer]

I hope they put her under the jail. I cant understand why you would need to paint you nails(or read or whatever) and drive. I got rear ended while stoped in traffic, luckily i was in my truck. I was just siting there looked up in my rearview and see the guy texting and I thought oh shit. right about that time he nailed me. I pull over and he does and I was polite in asking for his infomation. he said "I ought to beat your ass" repeatedly. I reminded him he rear ended me. I was very polite while he repetedly threatened me untill cops arived. then they seperated us and he yelled at the cop for a few minuts. the cop got pissed and told him to take off and then came up and told me to get moving that I wasnt allowed to park there. no report taken I was just told to leave.

[Marko]

Another issue that this tragic incident raises is that today so much of the focus is on people using cell phones when driving and the push for legislation banning it. I am pretty much opposed to this thinking. If cell phones were banned while driving nothing would have changed in this case. The real issue is distracted drivers screwing around with other things while driving. Nails and make-up, reading the paper, I’ve even seen a guy at an intersection watching a movie on his dash mounted deck, never mind the people that drive following their GPS. We need to stop people from thinking it’s OK to multitask like this while operating a vehicle. Some people can do this others can’t so nobody should do it at all and we don’t need legislation to ban cell phones because it really is not addressing the real issue here.

[Budo]

I have no issue with banning cell phones while driving. Although I agree that cell phones are just the tip of the iceberg.

[Marko]

I have no issue with banning cell phones while driving. Although I agree that cell phones are just the tip of the iceberg.

My point really is that it is misdirected energy. Police and "The Law" have enough tools at their disposal to stop this kind of nonesense. Whenever something goes wrong the kneejerk reaction is to make a new law. If they had started charging people with careless or dangerous right away when cell phones had come out, and the legal will was there to make the charges stick then this problem of multitasking while driving would likely have been nipped in the bud.

If there is a law against cell phone use then it's only a matter of time before somebody gets off because they were using their MP3 player and caused an accident, then we'll need an MP3 banning law ect. ect. ect.

[Budo]

Another case of inattentive driver...

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S1146105.shtml?cat=500

[ShnikeJSB]

Cell phones ARE banned while driving in Chicago and Illinois, as well as Texting while driving. :nod:

[Jstu202]

Unreal.. I hope she gets the book thrown at her.