Cops Eye Laptop In Calif. Collision

Computer In Crashed Car Was Allegedly On And Plugged Into Cigarette Lighter

(AP)  Authorities say a man who appeared to be driving while using his laptop computer died Monday when his vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic near Yuba City and collided with a Hummer.

California Highway Patrol officers investigating the accident say they found the victim's computer still running and plugged into the cigarette lighter of his Honda Accord.

The name of the dead man, a 28-year-old computer tutor from Chico, Calif., has not yet been released.

Police say the couple inside the Hummer escaped the collision with bumps and bruises.

The crash, near the intersection of highways 99 and 113 about 30 miles north of Sacramento, totaled both vehicles and closed a section of Highway 99 south of Yuba City for about two hours.

[allgood34]

Serves the guy right if he was using the laptop while driving. I'm tired of being cut off by motorists that are on the phone while driving that fail to signal or even look before changing lanes etc because they are to busy talking to drive. It's even worse when I'm on my motorcycle.

It should be felony to use phones and in this case laptops while driving. If the call is that important pull over or risk jail time. What did people do before cell phones were affordable? They pulled over and used pay phones, so why can't they pull over now?

[gunnerv1]

one less "Geek" in the food chain. ***! and I was hungr.y

[bluestardad]

Now the Government will say there was an attack planned by Iran on the Computer and we must invade to save the West Coast and Israel! Oh do not forget Saudi Arabia too! Wonder how Bushs al Qaeda friends in Lebanon feel about that?

[canaima]

The people here really amaze me. allgood34 (now there's an ironic name!) says that it "...serves him right...", as if death were an appropriate punishment for making an admitedly stupid mistake.

Then bluestardad tries to link this tragic accident to Bush & the government. What a stretch! Thank God he's not MY dad!

Both of you are idiots.

[tuckerndfw]

"they found the victim's computer still running. . . "

Who cares about the *******, I want to know what kind of laptop can take that kind of punishment and still keep running.

I want one of those.

[wyocowboy8]

Natural Selection at it's finest. Glad the other couple was ok.

[acauble1]

LOL!

It was probably one of those Panasonic 'Tough Book' laptops!

[wyocowboy8]

Natural Selection at it's finest. Glad the other couple was ok.

[ecuadoriana]

"Social Darwinism works. The herd is thinned just a little bit more. It's just a shame that innocent people are at risk also."
Posted by ronin10 at 06:02 AM : Feb 27, 2007

I couldn't have said it better, myself, ronin10!

It's risky enough to drive in traffic on a highway. Why anyone would think that working on their laptop, putting on mascara, shaving, changing clothes, fiddling w/the cd player, changing the baby's diaper, eating a bowl of soup, engaging in s**ual activities, reading the newspaper, gabbing on the phone- while driving an explosive devise (flammable liquid encased in metal & plastic) is a smart thing to do.It's beyond my comprehension!

I've seen all this & more being done by drivers in rush hour traffic. What's even more horrifying is that on occasion I've been passed by people doing their weird morning routines only to later pass them crashed into someone on the side of the road. I want to walk over & smack 'em a good one upside the head!

Before gabbing on that phone, imagine how the person on the other end would feel if the last thing they heard from you was "Oh my god, I'm going to die..." followed by metal crunching.

Are those distractions more important than the family you'll leave behind to mourn? Nothing on that phone or laptop is worth more than your life- or the life of the person you may kill.

[griking]

Answer me this tuckerndfw, what if it were your wife and kids in the other vehicle that this ******* smashed into? Would you still be feeling so bad for him? He put everyone on the road with him at risk and the roads are now a safer place without him on them.

[house015]

It's very sad that this man died, and I'm sorry that he died probably as a result of his momentary carelessness. At least the other couple will be fine.
bluestardad, you might want to take it down a notch on the Bush paranoia. Go outside once in a while.

[wendyhoo-2009]

Seriously there is no proof he was actully using it at the time of the crash. It is possible he was just charging it for his next client or that is how he keeps his invoices in order as he is sittin gin the car at the clients house etc... No one has yet to prove he was actually using the PC when he crashed.

[tuckerndfw]

Answer me this tuckerndfw, what if it were your wife and kids . . .

Posted by Griking at 08:47 AM : Feb 27, 2007

Where did you get the idea I am concerned about a guy who demonstrated callous disregard not only for his own life, but, as you point out, the lives of everyone around him?

From my viewpoint, people who drive and attempt to do anything else requiring their attention (use c-phone, apply makeup, read papers, etc.) should lose their license and serve serious jail or community service time.

I have nothing but contempt for people who needlessly endanger others due to their own callous disregard.

You obviously directed your remark at the wrong person.

[davidwayne20]

i worked with a woman that would read the entire news paper on her drive in to work....
wonder if she's still alive!
people need to DRIVE and focus on that very important task, DRIVING!
read the paper at work, call from the side of the road, eat at the diner!

[yoopermom]

Was I the only one that took bluestardad%u2019s comments as sarcasm?

[inventagod]

So the computer didn't crash? I want one of those...

[besscannon-2009]

Horrible accidents like this will keep on happening because people are more obcessed with all their electronic toys then they are about their own safety, or, that of others. We have a bus driver that ferries senior citizens around. He is responsible for our lives and safety, yet, still will talk on his cell phone while buzzing down the highway. No one cares, or, really THINKS today. Multi-tasking is the going thing, even if it means endangering your life and other's. So, stupidity will cause us to read about more such mishaps, and, more will die.

[chodaboytn]

Hmm, the people in the Hummer survived the crash. I'm buying a Hummer!

[kbiasillo]

Lets not be naive, plugged in and on... he was definitely doing more with it than he should have been, just law of averages. sure we wont know for sure but a safe assumption can be made. There is no doubt that something needs to be done to curb distractions while operating a motor vehicle. Tough to stop talking on cell phones, but make it illegal just the same. Only a small percentage of drunk drivers are ever caught too, but every bit helps. ...and bluestardad, you are rediculously funny... at least we know you arent naive.

[grumpas]

People are so ignorant when it comes to driving! I see people every day of the week with a cell phone rammed in their ear talking while they are driving! They are just as dangerous when one is driving as a lap top on is! I have saw people run over curbs and any number of things because they were to interested in the cell phone rather than their driving and couldn't turn the wheel! It's unreal what some people will do while driving! If they think there is an angel on their shoulder protecting them while indulging in ignorant behavior on the road!

[mnelsonix]

Women can admonish children, eat breakfast, drink coffee, put on eye make-up, talk on the Blackberry while reading text messages, and drive...all at the same time.

A man tries to use a laptop while driving and BOOM.

Leave the multitasking up to women...Geeze.

[united107]

Just proof positive, that all electronics should be banned while driving. It is difficult enough to navigate traffic safely, without having to worry about whether bimby's makeup is on correctly, or junior executive will make his all important luncheon with his sports bookie, while doing 80 in a 65 mph zone. Nothing is so important that it can't wait until you are safely off the road. Most Californians are horrible drivers anyway, we don't need to give them more distractions to make their driving even worse.

[jbb4c]

I'd hate to be the children in the car with that woman. Anything can distract anybody, man or woman. Everyone needs to stop playing around and pay attention to driving. LIVES ARE AT STAKE! Don't be stupid. Pull over to use the computer, scold the kids, eat, put on makeup, read the newspaper, look at a map or have a heated conversation on the cell phone. Wake up people!

[ecuadoriana]

"Leave the multitasking up to women...Geeze."
Posted by mnelsonix at 10:15 AM : Feb 27, 2007

Sorry, mnelsonix, but speaking, as a woman, women are doing a dis-service to themselves, their family & society when they play the "Super Multi-Task Mom". Women are the nurturers & live givers. To act like "gimme gimme, more more" men is a big mistake! (I am really hoping that you're being sarcastic!)

By putting on pantyhose while drinking coffee & driving sends the message to our children that these unimportant tasks of the multi kind are more important than PAYING ATTENTION to the important tasks (like the life or death task of driving)!!!

Is it any wonder that kids in school are admonished all the time: "eyes front, pay attention"- to the point of MDs, teachers & parents wanting the little "multi-taskers in training" to be put on ritalin to help them focus better!

Multi-tasking prevents one from really paying attention to what is important. My grandmother used to quote the saying "One thing at a time & that done well is a very good rule as many can tell."

The 28 year old computer tutor who died in that crash will never be able to tell that perhaps he should have been paying attention to the road, not the laptop. But maybe his death will drive home the concept of "One thing at a time..."

[allgood34]

"The people here really amaze me. allgood34 (now there's an ironic name!) says that it "...serves him right...", as if death were an appropriate punishment for making an admitedly stupid mistake"
~Posted by Canaima

You wouldn't be saying this had it been your spouse/child or loved one that was taken out by this idiot. His death is much more appropriate then anyone elses for his stupidity so you want to call me an idiot feel free but I stand by my statement. To many times have I had close calls with people to busy doing anything but driving while in control of a motor vehicle.

[a-ji]

Driving and using laptop? Hmmmmm.... not good. There are things can not simply be done at the same time. I guess he is too dedicated to his work that he disregard the HIGH risk of driving and using the laptop.

[hissteps4u]

Just because it was on and pluged in does not mean he was useing it and looking at it.

I regularly use my Computer when I drive for Music. I store some 10,000 songs on it and it is a regular thing for me to use the computer and Blue tooth it to my system to listen to the Music.

It is a shame someone died and others were hurt. If he was looking at it or surfing while driving he was a fool.

[dbstevens]

First of all, peace and prayers for this man and his family and friends.

I agree with those who point out that he may NOT have been engaged with his computer. We all jump to conclusions too readily. But I also agree with people who say he was a fool if he was...and MOST OF ALL I agree with those who'd say that ANYBODY who is doing something other than driving while they're driving isn't just foolish, they're dangerous. That includes cellphones, MP3 players (even listening to music too loud is distracting ... you can't hear what else might be going on), reading, applying makeup, looking at themselves in the rear view mirrors...anything other than paying attention to their driving. They can kill other people that way. We all know that a split second can take someone's life and you have to stay aware.

It's a shame that "common sense" isn't so common.

Whether or not this man really was distracted by his computer, I do like to see news stories which call attention to this sort of stupidity and remind us to be careful. If even one person remembers this and avoids distractions like this, then that's good.

[jsears334]

why would you have your laptop plug-in if you were not looking at it ?, come on people don't be fool like he was or your next !!!!

[tibu987]

Well, he won't do that again!

[jjjenkin]

You can have the laptop running and closed and have the GPS or whatever give verbal commands. I've done this. Trying to make a story every possible way. Shame on the media. It was a terrible accident.

[tcc3po]

darwin, baby, darwin...

[babyboo4you5]

ok well first of all. all you people are very stupid. you people dont know him and he is my brother. so all need so shut ur mouth about saying he deserved to die amn *** u. if it was ur son or borhter or uncle u would be saying that ***.

[tcc3po]

for all we know, he may have been watching streaming animal porn. not that it matters whether he was doing valuable work on his laptop or not, what he did was tremendously stupid, AND it reklessly endangered EVERY SINGLE DRIVER ON THE ROAD with him. why can't people have the---what is it? common sense or common decency?---to think about their fellow drivers/passengers???

[babyboo4you5]

ok well first of all. all you people are very stupid. you people dont know him and he is my brother. so all need so shut ur mouth about saying he deserved to die man *** u. if it was ur son or borhter or uncle u wouldnt be saying that

[rusty50-2009]

*******. At least he was the only one he got killed.

[ecuadoriana]

babyboo4you5, I don't believe you, because if that was your brother you would be tending to family matters at the moment, not surfing for news items & posts about this "accident". That is, unless you, too, are as addicted to technology as this man obviously was that you can't even attend to a family death without being plugged in to your machine. Just sayin'.

The reason I put "accident" in quotes is because it wasn't really an accident. Anyone who engages in activities beyond full control & concentration of the vehicle they are operating is doing so intentionally & therefore any tragic result (remember the ol' "action-reaction" phenomenon?) is not accidental, but intentional.

This man thankfully did not kill the family he hit. If he had, yet survived himself, there would be cries for the death penalty. This is a case of the middle man getting cut out, thereby saving many innocent people from having to pay for his crime- either with their lives, if he somehow "beat the system" & went on to do this again, or with their tax paying wallets.

This is a classic case of people shirking their basic human responsibility & privledge to have a brain & to use it wisely.

[ngbezmt]

Hi Folks,

Don't you think death is a little harsh for doing something you shouldnt while driving. He may have only pluged the computer in to charge the battery. Even the police say they are reviewing the situation. Never jump to conclusion without all the facts. I don't think any of you have the right to pass judgment but yet you cast the first stone!

[a-ji]

babyboo4you5, have you forgotten that this is a comment section? And ecuadoriana is right, shouldn't you attending the current situation your family is having now? Well, here you are "surfing" the news. Its a kind of accindent where it could have been avoided, laptotps and cellphones can cause distraction while driving.

[bildooreilly]

I've seen people driving down the freeway reading the freakin newspaper all spread out across their steering wheel. Not saying this guy was doing that sort of thing with his laptop but there's some people on the road that shouldn't be.

[anopinion1]

LOL tcc3po
survival of the fittest........he looses......


for some reason i bet he was playing
world of warcraft...

[mdc76082]

babyboo4you5 ,simply you're a fake, fraud and a phoney. Goodbye loser! What a moron. Mommy's calling you.

It doesn't matter if he wasn't using his computer or not. What matters is he did something he ought not have done while driving, and it cost him his life. He was being stupid for the time it took to end his life. Play with fire & you'll probably get burned. Sooner or later. Luckily, it did cost anyone else theirs.

[mdc76082]

I guess when I said, "wasn't using his computer or not." I actually meant to say " was using."

[musty2u]

Agreed, babyboo4you5 is totally fake. The idiot that dies doing laptop cr*ap next to me on the freeway gets what he deserves. His family should have warned him better.

[susanhelit]

He could have killed a bunch of other people, veering into oncoming traffic like that. Whether it was the computer or tuning the radio or falling asleep - I can't be sorry for him, because he was risking everyone else's life there. Anyone could have been in the other car, minding their own business, paying close attention to the road, postponing their phone calls - and killed for no good reason.

Of course, if it were a mechanical failure, or another car pushed him or cut him off - that's a whole different matter. But that seems unlikely.

Computer-wise - I too have used a laptop with GPS for directions. But if you can't configure it so it does it's work without you looking at the screen nor touching the keyboard, you have to pull over to use it (or in our case, have the passenger be the navigator).

[dotcomperson]

See what happens when you don't backup.

[mitywhity]

I see people doing this stuff all the time. I watched this woman go by me the other day with a magazine open on her steering wheel. "Mobile Make up" is a daily sight. Not to pick on just the ladies, I have seen men watching porn on a laptop or DVD player in traffic. What a sleazeball.

[funkotronic]

See, here's your proof that using a PC is inherently dangerous: When Windows Vista crashes, it takes a lot of stuff down along with it.

removes tongue from cheek

Seriously, **anything** that distracts you from sucessfully piloting 2 tons of steel traveling at a high rate of speed on a crowded roadway is a bad idea.

You see, I live in Chico, and I regularly travel the very section of Highway 99 where this accident ocurred. It is, in and of itself, a deadly stretch of road. Compounding the danger by adding a cell phone, computer, makeup or even a distracting conversation makes this an all-around bad situation.

I feel bad for the victim (actually, it turns out I may even know him - I will find out more tonight when I get home), and it's simply my opinion that this was an unfortunate ocurrence that very likely **may** have been caused by a singular lack of judgement and common sense.

But then again, it seems that these days "common sense" is an oxymoron.

[newton221]

He must have been looking at the Antonella Barba photos. I had trouble taking my eyes off them as well.

[haneyr-2009]

First let me congratulate Canaima for shutting down 'bluestardad' in his continuing saga of inserting his one dimensional diatribe about Bush and the war in every conversation that occurs. This may be a first for bsd to crawl away with shame.

On this subject. I would have to say that the preliminary evidence supports the driver using his laptop while driving. For him to vear off to the left is usually a reaction to his movement to the right while seated in the car. But I also agree with those who say not all the evidence is in and we shouldn't come to a quick conclusion. Hopefully CBS will air more followup info for people to know the whole truth.

Bottom line is that any activity that impedes a drivers ability to fully concentrate on driving a dangerous weapon called the automobile should be avoided. It's not only laptops but cellphones, car radios, kids, drugs, alcohol, *** (in case is this is x'd out it rhymes with hex), cigartette smoking, etc. Maybe the real cure is enclosing the driver in a small cubicle in the car where they can't be distracted by any of the above. Or maybe raise the fines and allow others to collect a bounty off of catching people in the act of being stupid.