May 4, 2009 6:32 pm US/Central
Driver Painting Nails Hits, Kills Motorcyclist
Biker Thrown 200 Feet In Lake Zurich Accident
LAKE ZURICH, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Anita Zaffke was stopped at a red light when a Chevy Impala, driven by a woman in her 40s, struck her motorcycle from behind.
A woman painting her fingernails while driving is accused in a deadly crash with a motorcycle in northwest suburban Lake Zurich over the weekend.
The incident happened in a southbound lane of Route 12 at Old McHenry Road about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Lake County Sheriff's police Sgt. Scott Morrison.
Anita Zaffke, 56, of the 1500 block of Eddy Lane in Lake Zurich, died about an hour later at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington after suffering apparent chest and abdominal injuries from being thrown from her bike, Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller said.
Lora Hunt, 48, is facing misdemeanor charges in the deadly motorcycle crash.
CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports that the victim's son, Greg Zaffke's fingernails are painted black, but it's not to make a fashion statement. It's to express outrage over what happened to his mom Anita Zaffke.
"My mother was a very intelligent woman," Greg Zaffke said. "She was very strong, independent."
But the 56-year-old motorcyclist was killed Saturday when she was flung from a Honda Shadow by the driver of an Impala. But what's most shocking about this accident is the reason why the driver failed to see Zaffke, who was wearing a reflective safety jacket and helmet.
"She has been painting her nails while driving her vehicle," said Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran. "She conceded to us that she was not paying attention, did not see the motorcycle in front of her stop."
Zaffke was stopped at Route 12 and Old McHenry Road heading southbound towards home when the Impala came up from behind her and slammed into her back tire. The force of the impact was so tremendous, Zaffke and her bike flew about 200 feet up the road.
A Monday autopsy found Zaffke died of multiple internal injuries to the chest and abdominal area, as well as a spinal fracture, according to Keller, who said the death has been ruled an accident.
CBS 2 stopped by the driver Lora Hunt's home Monday, but we were quickly sent away.
"You need to leave," a man said.
Hunt wasn't arrested Saturday and was simply given a ticket for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident. But the polished, covered windows of her Impala tell the story of her fatal mistake.
Hunt was also hospitalized following the crash for non life-threatening injuries.
Zaffke says Hunt needs to pay for what she did.
"The maximum prosecution, jail time," Greg said. "My mother's gone because of it."
Gone but certainly not forgotten by her only son, who was leaning heavily on loved ones today, even as he vowed to lean on lawmakers to beef up legislation.
That way, he says, the woman who first taught him to play soccer only to see him become a pro and a coach won't have died in vain.
"There won't be a moment when I coach that I don't think about her," Greg said.
Greg Zaffke coaches at Barrington High School and has asked students to wear black nail polish as an expression of outrage. He also wants motorcycle groups to use this case to help crack down on distracted drivers.
CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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