Cops Eye Laptop In Calif. Collision

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.

[anopinion1]

If the family should happen to view this comment area I would be ashamed to have them see me make the terrible comments you have been making. If you weren't there when he died, "shut up" No family should see their dead members spoken of like that (especially without knowledge).
Posted by ToolMangler at 07:45 PM : Feb 27, 2007


this is a post board that was made to go with the article.................
and this is a free country and besides cbs put this post board here for us to use so we are.............

[anopinion1]

Posted by tiggyboo at 01:15 PM : Feb 28, 2007

THIS COMPUTOR GUY CROSSED THE CENTER LINE AND BARRELED INTO THE HUMMER..........
its a damm good thing they were in a large vehicle like a hummer because the only person that should get hurt(if their had to be any) is the person that caused the damm accident. (which was this cumputor guy)

use your head tiggyboo

[a-ji]

Got your message loud and clear ToolMangler. My apologies if my words did offend anyone.

[mela774]

I'm really amazed at how no one has said anything about how this guy with the laptop was in a little Honda and the other party was in a freaking HUMMER.

It is pretty disgusting how just about everyone jumped to the absolute worst conclusions, but then maybe that is simply because of the manner in which the article was written. Bad news sells, after all, right?

This guy was a computer tutor, so it stands to reason he probably traveled a lot to meet with people to troubleshoot, etc. I know lots of people who rely on car battery chargers to keep their laptops running while they are on the go, and none of them are so stupid that they'd look at their comps while driving!

Use your common sense, people. The fact that the comp charging was probably coincidental; the REAL reason why he died is because he got creamed by that gas-guzzling monstrosity of metal.

[chia42728]

I am a semi driver and I have seen this sort of thing alot on our nation's highways. it doersnt always end in a tragedy like this but neverthe less he should not,under ANY circumstances have been using his computer while driving. He may not have just killed himself, but others as well. Babyboo, if your brother had killed another driver, that the other drivers family could very well be suing you and your family for wrongful death? or possibly worse? I think you had better stop to think about others than yourself here.

[toolmangler-2009]

If the family should happen to view this comment area I would be ashamed to have them see me make the terrible comments you have been making. If you weren't there when he died, "shut up" No family should see their dead members spoken of like that (especially without knowledge).

[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.

[newton221]

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

[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.

[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.