Man Collided With Other Driver - Killed 2 Because He Was Watching DVD

[matcom]

<snip>

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - An Alaska man whose truck collided head-on with another vehicle, killing two people in 2002, is on trial for murder this week with prosecutors saying the man was watching a DVD while driving.

Erwin Petterson denies watching the movie "Road Trip" on a DVD player in his dashboard -- he says he took his eyes off the road to reach for a drink -- but if convicted in a trial going on this week in Kenai, Alaska, he could be sentenced to 99 years in prison.

Alaska Department of Law officials say it is probably the first trial of this kind in the nation. Dashboard televisions are illegal in Alaska, but the law has not been updated to include DVDs. Prosecutors hope to prove Petterson acted with reckless indifference to human life. The crash that killed Bob Weiser, 60, and Donna Weiser, 56, on a highway south of Anchorage was merely a tragic accident, Petterson's attorney argued in opening statements.

The crash has prompted the Weisers' son to push for legislation to outlaw DVD players in vehicle dashboards, an increasingly popular feature.


"The young crowd from 18 to 25 loves it," said Terry Shimek, owner of an Anchorage electronics store.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=573&e=1&u=/nm/20040802/od_nm/dvd_dc

[GainesT1958]

1. Those sex scenes on the dash while driving...

Could be hazardous to one's health!:eyes:

B-)

[rocktivity]

2. Well, duh

It was only the matter of time before this happened. I'm not crazy about having those GPS maps on the dashboard, either. It's hard enough switiching channels on those newfangled radios!

:headbang:
rocknation

[JayS]

3. This story is in J/PS also if anyone is interested.

[StClone]

4. Vehicles with auto-pilot

Set it and go to the back of the van wet bar and catch a dvd.