Tammerlin Drummond: Texting while driving death a wake-up call

Stephanie Sablan, 24, uses crutches for the first time during her fourth training session, using the robotic elegs at the Rehabilitation Center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, on Wednesday, May 25, 2011. At left is Physical Therapist Darrell Musick, with Berkeley Bionics who developed the legs, and at right is Shonna Moran, senior physical therapist at VMC. Sablan's legs are paralyzed from her breaking her back in a car accident , in January of this year, after being ejected due to her texting and driving. (Karen T. Borchers/Mercury News)

JEFF AND Ling Murray were the proud parents of Calli, who at age 2, already spoke English and Chinese.

Kaitlyn Dunaway's parents also had reason to be proud. Dunaway, 18, was a freshman at Sonoma State University and a star volleyball player.

But on Dec. 1, 2010, according to the Sonoma County District Attorney, Dunaway did something stupid, reckless and illegal that countless people do every year. The teen attempted to text while she was driving.

According to authorities, Dunaway was so distracted by her cell phone, she did not see Calli walking hand in hand with her mother in a Rohnert Park crosswalk. Dunaway's Honda plowed into the toddler and her mother. Calli was killed. Ling Murray suffered major bone fractures and was unconscious for five days. She continues to undergo rehabilitation.

Dunaway is the first known person in California to be prosecuted for allegedly causing a death while texting and driving. She was charged in May with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. The charge carries a maximum sentence of up to one year in county jail. Her attorney has asked for more time to review the evidence before Dunaway enters a plea. She is scheduled to return to court June 23, though her attorney says she fully admits responsibility and is devastated by what happened.

In the court of public opinion, she has been called a "baby killer." Some say Dunaway deserves nothing less than to rot in prison so she can reflect on all the pain she has caused.

I don't see what would be accomplished by locking away this young woman for years on end. She made a terrible mistake that she will have to live with every day for the rest of her life.

I would rather see her, as part of her sentence, ordered to go out and talk to others about the dangers of texting and driving. Maybe she could help to scare some sense into some people.

A study last year by the American Journal of Public Health found that there were 16,000 traffic fatalities between 2002 and 2007 due to texting while driving. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood called cell phone use while driving an epidemic.

Hands Free Crutch - News


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Shopping Street | Blog | How to get a hands free crutch worth your ...

How to get a hands free crutch worth your money

Crutch can be defined as support used by the disabled person as support in walking. These are generally designed to fit under the underarms and often used in pairs. Variations of popular armpit crutch have been constructed over the last 50 years. These are forearm prop. The most popular crutch just recognized is the Millennial Crutch. Even these changes are advanced but the basic function still requires upper part strong. This device was first introduced in the fall of 2009 and is currently being tested for efficiency and to better the strength of patients that could gain benefit from this knee walker, hands free crutch or a knee scooter rental. Crutches are not known for their fashionable way. In fact, they can be totally unattractive. Mostly companies develop enjoyable crutch covers in a variety of colours for children. Walking with knee walker, hands free crutch or a knee scooter rental often leads to discomfort in the underarms. Soft jelly crutch pads make them secure. For a patient who must walk while on crutches, buy a hitch that join their rolling bags to one of their prop. Backpacks can be uncomfortable and can make the person to miss their balance, so these special hitches that allow the luggage to revolve behind makes for no dangerous, more enjoyable trip. High quality knee walker, hands free crutch or getting knee scooter rental has a range of wounding edge. Crutches are constructed to adapt to your needs and routine. Each range of knee walker, hands free crutch or getting knee scooter rental comes in a mixture of colours and advancement such as fully comfortable custom arrangement. In public buildings use] elevators whenever feasible. When an elevator is not available, use a staircase with a sturdy handrail. Even intentionally going down stairs on your rear end may be the better and best alternative. Some person using crutches have knee disability .For those patients, theses disadvantages remove the choice of the Hands-Free Crutch. The seated scooter is a replacement of the Knee Scooter where the person sits on a bike seat while resting injured leg on a foot rest. Generally the idea of unwritten crutches is something that people are coached when they are getting better. Verbal crutches are those connectors that all of us use from time to time many people use God as a support throughout the bad times in their life. There are many mistakes people make when buying knee walker, hands free crutch or while getting knee scooter rental. A point to consider when buying walking aids is to find one that is according to your height. If not adjusted correctly, the crutch can cause discomfort in the hand.


Hands Free Crutch - Bookshelf

Verbl Ablty& Readg Comprhsn, 3E

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