Car and Train Collide Because of Text-Messaging Driver

Jenny Albano

Contributor

0 CommentsPrint ArticleSubscribe

An Oregon man crashed into a freight train on Tuesday, October 16 at around 2 a.m. The driver, Robert Gillespie, and the crew on-board the train were not seriously injured.

Gillespie told rescue workers that he was using his cell phone to send a text message while they were trying to release him from the demolished vehicle. He has been charged with drunken driving and careless driving. It is also believed that Gillespie was driving over the 35mph speed limit at the time of the accident.

Gillespie stated that once he looked up after completing his text message he finally saw the freight train. Apparently he tried to slam on the brakes at the last minute, but it was too late.

Text messaging or using cell phones while driving is very dangerous, and can cause the driver to not concentrate on the road. This accident is just another example of how distracting cell phone use while driving really is.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.