Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — The State Police issued an urgent plea Monday for motorists to stay off their cell phones after a distracted driver left one of the agency’s own -- a 29-year-old mother of a grade-schooler -- in intensive care with two broken legs and a smashed pelvis.
“We’re also asking the motoring public to please slow down, move over or change lanes when you’re approaching emergency vehicles, because this could save our lives,” said State Police Lt. Luis Gutierrez, standing outside Stroger Hospital, where the injured trooper remained in intensive care Monday.
Kimisha M. Moore, 19, did none of the above when, while using her cell phone, crashing her Toyota into the trooper Saturday night along the Dan Ryan Expy., Cook County prosecutors said in court Monday.
Worse, prosecutors say, Moore ignored warnings from her passenger that she was getting too close to the trooper. On Monday, Cook County Judge Jackie Portman set bond at $50,000 for Moore, who is charged with aggravated reckless conduct, a felony.
The trooper was struck shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday while standing on the right shoulder of northbound Dan Ryan about a quarter- mile south of 63rd Street, investigators said. At the time, the trooper was handling a traffic stop, investigators said.
Moore’s passenger told her that other drivers were switching to the left lanes to avoid the trooper on the shoulder, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin DeBoni said.
But Moore was using her cell phone and not paying attention, DeBoni said. The passenger went so far as to turn the steering wheel to the left, but Moore then jerked the wheel back to the right before losing control of the vehicle, which smashed into the trooper, DeBoni said.
Moore has admitted she was using her cell phone at the time of the crash and estimated she was travelling about 60 mph, DeBoni said.
State Police on Monday reminded motorists that taking their eyes off the road, even for a second, can lead to tragedy. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration records indicate that nearly 6,000 people died last year in crashes involving distracted drivers, and more than 500,000 people were injured.
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