Our partner The Seattle Times writes that a Seattle man who hit a blind 91-year-old pedestrian crossing near the intersection of Fifth Avenue Northeast and Northeast 97th Street was sentenced Friday to 10 months of work release. Grant Meyers, who was using a white cane when he was hit, died two days later.
As part of his sentence, Scott Caudel, who was looking at the GPS function on his cell phone when he struck Meyers with his pickup on June 10, 2009, is forbidden from using a cell phone while driving for the next two years, even a hands-free device.
The Times says Caudel previously had pleaded guilty to reckless driving and reckless endangerment.
The penalty for reckless driving and reckless endangerment, both gross misdemeanors, is a max of one year in jail. The driver did a really, really, really stupid thing and he’s being punished. The story doesn’t include other important information relevant to the sentence, such as, what was Caudel’s driving record like prior to this? If it was clean, that would explain this sentence. If he had a DUI or a reckless, then he probably should have gotten jail time.
I hope no one complaining about the sentence ever talks on the phone or looks at a GPS while driving; otherwise, there but for the grace of God go you.
That just doesn’t seem like enough. Since it’s already illegal to use a mobile device while driving, it isn’t much punishment. A 91 year old’s life should be worth more than this. What a shame.