The driver of an empty fuel tanker was using his cell phone to look at Facebook when he crashed into three police cars and two fire department trucks on Interstate 8 in May, killing an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer, records obtained by the Star show. Officer Tim Huffman was killed in the May 6 wreck on eastbound Interstate 8 in Yuma County. The truck driver was charged with second-degree murder and other crimes.
As you can see from the picture on the right, the driver was blocking the on board dash camera from seeing him using his smart phone to access the internet. However, that wallet flew out of the way when he crashed into an almost stationary Arizona police officer at 66 mph killing him and destroying six vehicles as well. You can see the video by following this link here.
With technology these days, an investigating officer can find out if a driver was being negligent through meticulous record keeping and time stamps that phone companies keep on us. In this crash, it was evident that the driver was distracted when he hit the police officer at 66 mph without any attempt to brake and the video evidence was just the final nail in the coffin.
If you watch the video, you might wonder as I did why the police officer was just basically stationary on an active interstate with no emergency lights going. The officer could've been more careful as he pulled out. However, when the truck driver was as negligent as he was, totally attentive to his phone and not driving, it's doubtful that the police officer would've survived anyway.
In conclusion, no professional driver is good enough to text and drive. Sooner or later, a crash just like this one will happen to those who engage in that dangerous behavior. Stay alert, stay alive.