In Houston, Texas five children drown when a car lost control and went down an embankment into the Green Bayou, according to CNN. The accident happened Saturday when the driver of a Lincoln Towncar veered off the road after being distracted by an incoming cell phone call.
The driver of the car was the father of four of the children killed. He and an adult passenger were able to get out of the car and rescue a 10 year old girl. However they were not able to save three boys that were ages 4, 6, and 7, and two girls that were ages 1 and 3.
It is also being reported that the driver did not pass a field sobriety test at the scene and was taken to a police station for a blood sample. If the driver was DUI, serious criminal charges will likely be filed.
The car was located by police divers in 9 1/2 feet of water after searching for 2 hours. The currents were so fast that police could only touch the car, but not open the doors.
This deadly accident helps illustrate the dangers of cell phone use while driving. A momentary distraction can cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle. We recently posted an article about a study that showed drivers using cell phones are more distracted than other drivers. Hand held cell phone use has been banned in the City of Chicago and many other parts of the United States.
The same danger could be said about text messaging and internet use. Chicago lawmakers are currently looking to ban those activities as well.