Texting Driver Guilty in Death of 14-year-old Boy

I found this story on KTLA News.
This accident happened in the intersection of Indianapolis Ave and Everglades Ln in Huntington Beach. This happened 2 years ago on August 29th, 2007. Jeffrey Woods was driving a pickup, while on two prescription drugs, Vicodin and Xanax, and was texting on his phone. Danny Oates, the 14-year-old boy, was riding his bike when he was struck by Jeffrey Woods. The report said, "Woods had pleaded not guilty to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated." Woods' defense attorney, Scott Well, claims, "Woods had a seizure during the crash and was later diagnosed with epilepsy." Woods is now facing a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison, and unfortunately he isn't the only person facing criminal charges for a fatality," ellegedly caused by texting while driving." Police say, "Martin Burt Kuehl, 41, was driving west on Westcliff Drive when he hit and killed Martha Ovalle in a crosswalk back in August 2008."

My first reaction to this story was how sad it was that people don't pay enough attention to the road and find their cell phones more important.

Although I have been known to text and drive; I am very very aware of everything around me, and do not text often. I know there are so many people out there who do this on a daily basis, and I know if it were my kid who was hit by a careless driver, then I would be very upset about this situation. However, I am curious how true the "epileptic" part is. Did this guy really have a seizure before he hit the boy? or was it an excuse to make this accident less of a blame for Woods? If I remember correctly, I think Xanix is an anti-depressant. And Vicodin is a heavy duty pain killer. So why would someone on both of these pills be texting while driving? I don't know, maybe people on those meds or ok to drive, I'm not a doctor, obviously. Although this man was on two prescription drugs and has epilepsy, they main title of this story is "Texting Driver Guilty of Death in 14-year-old Boy." This title helps catch people's attention. The sad thing is, it wasn't just texting that did this; especially if this man did have a seizure during the accident. But since the article said the accident was caused by texting, they had to mention another accident caused by texting, Martin Burt Kuehl. I can't imagine how Woods' or Kuehl feel, knowing that a stupid text message conversation took someone's life. I don't think I could live with myself, knowing that I killed someone so carelessly.

We all make mistakes; I just wish everyone could learn from each other's mistakes and move on with their lives; instead of repeating mistakes over and over again. I bet this isn't the last time this happens. My prayer goes out to these families who have lost someone to a careless driver. May you find peace somehow, and find a way to forgive.