The State Senate Transportation Committee advanced Senate Bill 142 Friday. The measure provides state-wide penalties for those caught texting while driving. Members heard some emotional testimony during the meeting—including words from Jeanean Christensen of Mitchell. She lost her husband when a distracted driver slammed into the back of his motorcycle in September of 20-10.
Christensen told the committee, "This man took away my husband of 19 years. My son doesn’t have his dad to play football with anymore, or go hunting with. There’s no more father-and-son trips. My daughter had a special bond with her father, that can never be replaced. This texting driver also took away our health insurance, our prescriptions, dental and vision insurance, and three-fourths of our income.
"The years go by, but the pain in my heart will never go away. It’s time something gets done, so maybe another family won’t have to go through this pain."
The man who caused the accident, Justin Iburg of Mitchell, was acquitted of Second-Degree Manslaughter by a Davison County jury , but convicted of reckless driving. Iburg now gives presentations to schools on the dangers of texting and driving. The bill passed the Transportation Committee on a 5-2 vote.