Jun 8, 2009 1:25 pm US/Central
Serious Charges Expected For Nail-Painting Driver
Traffic Citation Against Lora Hunt Dropped So Other Charges May Be Brought
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
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Anita Zaffke was stopped at a red light when a Chevy Impala, allegedly driven by Lora Hunt, struck her motorcycle from behind.
Lake County prosecutors have dropped a traffic citation against Lora Hunt,
who police say hit and killed a motorcyclist as she painted her fingernails while driving last month.
"We're investigating to determine whether more serious charges can be filed," said Lake County State's Atty. Michael Waller.
Hunt, a 48-year-old grandmother from far southwest suburban Morris, was scheduled to be in traffic court Monday after being ticketed May 2 for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Lake County Sheriff's police said Hunt was painting her nails while driving her Chevrolet Impala when she struck motorcyclist Anita Zaffke, 56, at a Wauconda intersection.
Zaffke was thrown 200 feet from her bike and died of resulting injuries.
Sheriff's police said they found red nail polish splattered on Hunt's airbag and that Hunt told them she was painting her nails while driving.
Had Hunt pleaded guilty to the traffic violation, prosecutors might not be able to pursue more serious charges because of the double jeopardy statute, where a person cannot be tried twice on the same set of facts.
It's unclear if the Illinois criminal code as currently written provides a way to criminally charge distracted drivers, but Waller said he expects to have new charges filed in two or three weeks.
State lawmakers previously failed to pass stiffer laws against distracted driving, which critics say are difficult to enforce.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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