Sheriff: Driver in deadly crash distracted by cell phone
CORVALLIS, Ore. - A driver who lost control of her van and fatally collided with a Eugene motorcyclist faces criminal charges after deputies say she was distracted by a cell phone moments before the crash.
Deputies arrested Veronica Avila Diaz, 28, on Thursday on second degree manslaughter, reckless driving and 7 counts of reckless endangering for her role in the Sept. 30 crash that killed 72-year-old Kenneth Douglas "Doug" Carroll.
Deputies said Diaz and her passenger, Jose Gutierrez, were using a cellphone to take picture just before Diaz lost control of her 1996 Ford Windstar as she was southbound on Hwy 99.
The van crossed into the oncoming lane and turned sideways, the sheriff's office said.
Carroll was northbound on Hwy 99 on his motorcycle and crashed into the side of the van.
A 2005 Mustang driven by Danielle Rose Krier, 17, of Eugene was traveling behind the motorcyclist and swerved to avoid the accident. The Mustang crashed into the ditch but did not hit either the van or the motorcycle, the sheriff's office said.
Gutierrez also faces charges of hindering prosecution and interfering with a police officer, deputies said.
Three children, ages 6 months to 11 years, were also in the van.
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Why does it take two people to take a picture? What were they taking a picture of? The three kids in the van?
So no one else has ever messed with their phone while driving? To me, this is just a great reminder of how important it is to not have distractions while you're driving. It could have easily been any of us spilling hot coffee on our lap, turning around for a screaming child, turning up the radio. I also have no idea what race has to do with this; do only illegals have cell phones?
 @Lemons No but they're uninsured illegals, because illegals cannot legally drive in oregon. No uninsured people should be driving.
 @ruebear  @Lemons I think you are mistaken. They were not illegals, some other knobs just said that because they weren't white. If they were illegals driving without insurance they would have been charged with that as well.Â
Good. Send her to prison for a very long time. Manslaughter is an appropriate charge.
What's the imigration status of these two idiots...call me a racist if you want..but don't deny you didn't ask yourself the same question.
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I am very sad for the family of the man killed ... to have somebody so selfish and inconsiderate of others on the road is just sad.
 @PEANUT I just don't see what difference it makes what the immigration status is - does it make the victim any more or less dead? No. The real issue here has nothing to do with race, gender, nationality or anything else. It is that someone made a very stupid decision not to pay attention while driving. If only vehicles could be equipped with a device that made them inoperable unless your full attention was on driving.
It does make a difference, our media has been corrupted and is bias. I just want information on their imigration status and more details. The story was lacking this info just like most other media reports. It is not the fault of the auto industry ...as you stated.."If only vehicles could be equipped with a device that made them inoperable unless your full attention was on driving."...it is the fault of these idiots.
@Just me @PEANUT It makes a difference in that the more that type of information is published, the more pressure there would be on liberal politicians to put a stop to the practice of giving them a free pass. But since that neither fits into their agenda or the newspapers' it will not be, sad to say.
@PEANUT I agree it would be interesting to know if they are legal, whether she had an Oregon Driver's license, whether her passenger is legal, etc. etc. I can't understand why the media is so hesitant to publish this type of information. How can we pick and choose what laws to enforce or not to enforce. If we are not going to enforce a law, change it or get it off the books. If we are going to enforce a law, treat everyone the same. The justice system in this country is getting worse by the year.Â