Texting teen gets 9 days for hitting, killing cyclist

Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 7, 2006 at midnight

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CASTLE ROCK - A 17-year-old driver who was text-messaging when he hit and killed a cyclist last November was sentenced to nine days in jail and four years probation Monday.

"We believe it is fair and appropriate," Kathleen Walsh, spokeswoman for the Douglas County district attorney's office, said of the sentence.

On Nov. 23, 2005, Jim Price, 63, of Highlands Ranch, was riding in the bicycle lane of Wildcat Reserve Parkway when he was hit by a car driven by a 17-year-old boy who apparently was text-messaging on his cell phone at the time.

Price died from his injuries at Swedish Medical Center two days later, and the teenager was cited for a misdemeanor charge of careless driving resulting in death. The sentencing range for the charge is 10 days to a year in jail, and a fine between $100 to $1,000.

Douglas County Judge Michelle A. Marker on Monday deferred to the victim's family's wishes that the teenager not serve an extended time in jail, and placed the youth on home detention, requiring that he wear an ankle bracelet, not drive any vehicle or possess a cell phone while on probation.

She also ordered that the teenager spend nine days in jail while on spring break in May, and pay $2,600 in fines and court costs.

Marker imposed other penalties, including 300 hours of community service in which the teenager must educate the public about safety, and requiring that the youth write to every member of the state legislature to discuss whether there is a need for a law regulating the use of cell phones while driving.

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