Crime

Teen Gets Jail Time for Deadly Texting While Driving Accident

Mass. Teen Sentenced to a Year in Jail for Fatal Texting While Driving Crash That Killed One and Injured Another

Defendant Aaron Deveau's father weeps while the victim impact statement is read in deadly texting while driving accident. (Photo: AP/Eagle Tribune, Tim Jean, Pool)

HAVERHILL, Mass. (The Blaze/AP) — A Massachusetts teenager was sentenced Wednesday to spend a year in jail for a fatal traffic accident that happened while he was texting.

Aaron Deveau of Haverhill was sentenced to 2 1/2 years behind bars with a year to serve and the remainder suspended for the February 2011 crash that took the life of Donald Bowley Jr., 55, of Danville, N.H., and seriously injured Bowley’s girlfriend.

Prosecutors say the then-17-year-old high school student sent 193 text messages the day of the crash, including some just a minute or so before impact and dozens more after it.

A Haverhill District Court jury convicted Deveau of motor vehicle homicide and negligent operation while texting. Family members of both Deveau and Bowley, sitting just feet from each other in court, cried and hugged as the verdict was read.

Mass. Teen Sentenced to a Year in Jail for Fatal Texting While Driving Crash That Killed One and Injured Another

Daniel Bowley, left, hugs his sister after Aaron Deveau, 18, seated at right, was found guilty in Haverhill District Court. (Photo: AP/Eagle Tribune, Tim Jean, Pool)

Watch the victim’s son and girlfriend comment on the verdict in this interview with The Boston Globe:

Deveau apologized to Bowley’s family. He was among the first people convicted under a law that took effect in September 2010 that created the criminal charge of texting while driving negligently and causing injury. Deveau faced that charge for the injuries caused to Bowley’s girlfriend.

“I made a mistake,’’ Deveau told the judge, according to The Boston Globe. “If I could take it back, I would take it back. I just want to apologize to the family.’’

Now 18, Deveau, who had faced a maximum of four years behind bars, also was ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and surrender his driver’s license for 15 years.

Mass. Teen Sentenced to a Year in Jail for Fatal Texting While Driving Crash That Killed One and Injured Another

Deveau testifying Tuesday in court. (Photo: AP/Eagle Tribune, Paul Bilodeau, Pool)

Police say Deveau’s car crossed the center line on a Haverhill street and crashed head-on into Bowley’s vehicle. Bowley, a father of three, died 18 days later of injuries authorities say he suffered in the crash. His passenger and girlfriend, Luz Roman, had an extensive stay in the hospital recovering from her injuries.

“This has been giving me a lot of pain. There are no words to describe,” Roman said outside of court Wednesday.

Bowley’s sister, Donna Burleigh, said, “We hope this sends a message that it’s not OK to text and drive.”

Mass. Teen Sentenced to a Year in Jail for Fatal Texting While Driving Crash That Killed One and Injured Another

(Photo: AP//Eagle Tribune, Tim Jean, Pool)

Deveau testified Tuesday, saying he was not sending or receiving text messages in the moments before the collision. He said he put his phone on the passenger seat and was distracted and thinking about his homework when the crash occurred. He told police after the crash that he swerved to avoid another vehicle in front of him that suddenly hit its brakes.

His lawyer, Joseph Lussier, said prosecutors failed to prove that Deveau was texting at the time of the crash. Lussier said the number of texts Deveau sent that day was irrelevant.

Comments (49)

  • wow89
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 3:50pm

    wow you guys are crazy yes this is a tragedy. i can tell you one thing that thousands of grown adults 30 and above have cause an accident because being on there phone and nothing is done to them. just the other day a women will do no jail time after driving over a deliveryman while she was text. this kids life is change just cause he has to live with what he did now he has to do a year in jail and will never come out the same. if you really think that this kid should be in jail then. you really need to look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself how easy it could be you that looks at something and then runs into someone and kills them. should we put you in jail for a year. thank you and free this poor kid he doesn’t need to be in jail maybe 1000 hours of community service but a year in jail is only going to ruin the rest of his life.

    Report Post »  
  • Amarath01
    Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:55pm

    This is just dumb, i hope to monitor changing of radio settings so that i may criminalize its use while driving , and ipods, and hand less phones, and taling to people in the car, etc.
    What happened to the spirit of a nation of laws not of men? When you kill someone in an auto wreak you should be punished if it was your careless action that caused it (no matter what that pertained to.. if you deiced to drive blindfolded, huff ether, drive facing backwards, stare off into the sky, w/e). Now proving much of those might not possible… but lets not act as MEN and punish people different or to MAKE a POINT or EXAMPLE, lets see that justice is done.

    Report Post »  
  • VApatriot2
    Posted on June 8, 2012 at 12:12pm

    To the family of the deceased…my heartfelt sympathies for your loss!!

    To the judicial system…this young man was found guilty of a crime. However, the individual who texted HIM while HE was driving is just as guilty because THEY knew he was operating a motor vehicle. and willfully caused and created a distraction.

    Readers…Realize and understand that hour loved one, family member, co-worker, wants to respond to your call. It’s a normal reaction. Yet, you are contributing to that driver’s inability to drive a vehicle safely. Please, if you know someone is behind the wheel of a car, don’t call or expect them to answer your text. You can wait until they can safely pull off the road to further that pitiful, unimportant, nonsensical question. Takes 2 to tango, folks!

    Report Post » VApatriot2  
  • faithfullistener
    Posted on June 8, 2012 at 12:02pm

    I quite agree with the court’s ruling! And the same for hand held cellphones! They are a dangerous distraction! They should have heavy fines! And I mean HEAVY FINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After all, money talks!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • MRMANN
    Posted on June 8, 2012 at 6:27am

    Only one paltry, meager year?? Practically a freebie murder!!

    Report Post »  
  • USA-Ron
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:48pm

    a Murderer should receive a Murder Sentence,

    in America not too many years ago,

    if you kill — you die

    the Word of God says -“Thou shalt not kill”

    it is easy in todays time to get away with anything

    we can only hope for Jesus to come soon

    Report Post »  
  • AUsername
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:02pm

    stupid bitch should be given the sentence of manslaughter.

    Report Post » AUsername  
  • g.prunty
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:02pm

    accident is the key here who is to say he was texting at the time.but..still a man died a woman was seriously injured a price must be paid…..with that being said I believe that you shouldn‘t be able to drive till age 21 and you shouldn’t be able to vote till age 35.

    Report Post »  
  • MyzPhoenyx
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:12pm

    I’ve taken offensive and defensive driving courses during the course of my involvement in EMS. One of my biggest pet peeves, since I was first working accidents on the side of the road, was those that were so busy using their phones / pagers, to even consider the threat that they were posing to everyone else. I’ve been run off of the road a few times by someone paying more attention to their phones, than they were to the tons and tons of steel careening around them. When texting became popular, it got worse. If this kid hadn’t been so preoccupied with his phone, just 60 seconds before the crash, would he have seen the car stop in front of him? Maybe he looked up from tossing his phone on the passenger seat and suddenly saw a stopped car, instead of a car suddenly stopping? Your brain makes billions of mathematical computations per second while driving. Heightened awareness in all driving conditions is an absolute must. Any distraction is dangerous. They won’t even allow drivers in an auto auction to utilize a cell phone while working, as it is a hazard to everyone around them.
    This was an accident caused by his thoughtlessness. He wasn’t sent up the river for life, because this was and accident. There was no intent to do harm, just a severe lack of maturity, and carelessness, at the awful expense of a life. Do people really think that he should just walk away?

    Report Post » MyzPhoenyx  
    • lookatthefactsjack
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:57am

      Accident my foot! Driving a car without looking out the windshield and then crashing…..not an accident. Kind of like standing in a crowded mall, closing your eyes and firing off a gun. (gosh officer, I didn’t mean to hit anyone)
      Any thinking person would know that the possibility and probability of crashing goes up exponentially if you don’t watch where you are going. Duh. I say hang em high.

      Report Post » lookatthefactsjack  
    • rolla020980
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 12:45pm

      “Why don’t we call them accidents?”

      “Because the term accident implies that no one is to blame”

      – Hot Fuzz (2007)

      Report Post »  
  • JakeEllis
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 6:16pm

    Cry me a river. How many times have I heard ‘texting and driving kills’? It does. You knew it. You blew it. My opinion, 1 year is too lenient. You killed another person because you could not control your childish behavior. TEXTING WHILE DRIVING KILLS PEOPLE! PERIOD.

    Report Post » JakeEllis  
    • mekusmilkdud
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:50pm

      Not only does it kill it causes road rage, it is so frustrating to get behind some hoe hoe on the bleepin phone and they can not not figure out they can turn right on a red or they sit at a green till it turns yellow and they fn slow down peak hour traffic even more at lights and intersections or they fn get in the passing lane and do 45 while fn texting or yappin with a cell phone in one hand

      Report Post »  
  • h20sue
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 5:01pm

    Everyone makes mistakes, but this was deadly, and how many times do the police and parents have to tell children (teens) not to talk on the phone, or text. He gets jail time and his victim a death sentence. I think this law should be mandatory for the entire nation. I live on a major highway and I see truckers (semi-drivers) ride by my home texting! I hear them cross the rumble strips. You darn tooten it should be a law. I cringe when I mow my yard. I see mothers with children in the back seat, texting. I pull off the road when I can when I see them weaving. It’s dangerous. It’s a shame, with all the money Verizon, and other telecommunication companies have, and make on us, they can’t find a way to stop the availability when someone picks up a phone in a vehicle. Any vehicle. They can wait until the vehicle stops, then text or make their calls. When the car is cut off, the phone reactivates! Another way to express concern about this problem is to show videos of accidents, and casualites to students before they even attempt to get their license. Maybe this would be substantial as they just “aren’t getting it.”

    Report Post »  
  • yanki161
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 4:33pm

    I find this a little troubling. It doesn’t sound as if texting WAS the actual cause so I am surprised by his conviction. Emotional jury may be right.

    Report Post » yanki161  
    • Question with BOLDness
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:28pm

      I agree with you. IMO the article if VERY misleading. All the way through you are thinking this guy is guilty of texting while driving, come to find out IN THE VERY LAST sentence

      [ "His lawyer, Joseph Lussier, said prosecutors failed to prove that Deveau was texting at the time of the crash. Lussier said the number of texts Deveau sent that day was irrelevant."]

      But then they also said

      ["Prosecutors say the then-17-year-old high school student sent 193 text messages the day of the crash, including some just a minute or so before impact and dozens more after it."]

      “A minute or so before impact” – That may not sound like a lot, but in actuality it really is. A lot can happen in 60 seconds – and again, what is ‘or so’? Is that 1 minute OR TWO? OR THREE?

      I don’t agree with this decision IN THIS CASE (it was not proven IMO) – not that I wouldn’t agree if it WAS proven.

      Report Post » Question with BOLDness  
    • bpodlesnik
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:40pm

      It only takes a second or two of taking your eyes off the road for something serious to go wrong.

      Report Post » bpodlesnik  
  • jungle J
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 2:29pm

    The rule of law only pertains to……………..

    Report Post »  
  • jungle J
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 2:29pm

    The rule of law only pertains to……………..

    Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:48pm

    Whether he was texting or not…he apparently crossed the centerline and hit someone head on.

    Report Post »  
    • Marci
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:59pm

      If they proved texting at the time of the accident caused this, then the punishment is just. If they did not prove this, and this was an example being made out of him, it affects us all. Emotional juries can be a problem to the entire justice system.

      Report Post » Marci  
    • OlderCowGirl
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:21pm

      You are right…he crossed the line, no matter if he was texting or looking the other way. I don’t give a damn if he was texting. He killed someone the same as if he fired a gun or stabbed someone..

      @ Marci…are you crazy? Made an example of him? Is that a bad thing when he just killed and maimed someone? My father was killed by someone just like this kid. I was 13, my sister was 11, my brother 5. It ruined our lives…everything changed. My mom had to sell our farm. All our animal friends were now gone. I was sent to live with my grandparents. I never got to really know my father. When I bought my first home I did not have my Dad to help advise me how to fix it up, make repairs. Killing with a car or a knife or gun or arrow…is still killing.

      Report Post » OlderCowGirl  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:43pm

    apologize my ass – dam sure isn’t going to bring back the life he took- he should have gotten life- thats what he took. No one get held accountable anymore- 2 and a half years is just a slap. BS

    Report Post »  
  • spudwhite
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:14pm

    What is it with folks here?
    The texting issue is beside the point in the big picture.
    The teen is guilty of causing the death of a man.
    And he lied about it on the witness stand and all folks here are interested in is how texting is fine and isn’t it sad the poor lad is being punished for it.
    Meanwhile, A MAN IS DEAD because of the actions of a negligent driver guilty of manslaughter.
    “OOPs, sorry, just an accident”

    Report Post »  
    • OlderCowGirl
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:28pm

      Amen amen. Thanks for noticing the real cause of the accident…not paying attention. Regardless of texting or some other distraction. It’s about the distraction(s)!!! He knew perfectly well he was not supposed to text and drive. For the life of me I cannot understand why (or even how) people want to text instead of talk??? Talking and driving is bad enough.

      Report Post » OlderCowGirl  
  • KeithOlberdink
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:09pm

    An example needs to be made. Driving and texting is out of control and is the cause of a large percentage of accidents today. 1 year? What a joke. Expect more deaths

    Report Post » KeithOlberdink  
    • Mikev5
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 5:58pm

      I agree

      Cell phone use is out of control these days I don’t like even walking or biking on the side of the road anymore that’s how bad it has gotten. I feel like some kind of target

      I just don’t trust my safety on our roads anymore.

      Report Post » Mikev5  
  • TROLLMONGER
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:35am

    Old people have been the cause for many more fatal car accidents than teenagers, period! Old timers should be required to take the driving test after the age of 65.

    Report Post » TROLLMONGER  
    • justangry
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:51am

      Can you imagine how many they’d cause if they texted too?

      Report Post » justangry  
    • rickc34
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:36pm

      People in this age group are taking meds that make it unsafe to drive so they are under the influance of a non-narcotic so many don’t need to be driving . But this young mans mistake took the life of another. I was watching the news when he was sentenced and he appears to be sincere in his apology and I know it does not change the facts but here is a life that has been ruined also now is a time to heal for all those involved. But the lesson should apply to all regarding our actions and what may happen.

      Report Post »  
    • Heb4Seven
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 6:23pm

      Good thing most of them have more common sense then to even consider attempting it.

      Report Post »  
    • OlderCowGirl
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:31pm

      Is that why teenagers have to pay much much more for car insurance…than older folks?

      Report Post » OlderCowGirl  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:29am

    don’t like it. get mad all you want but teenagers have been killing themselves and others on the road since they started getting driver’s license. I don’t but I can text and drive or do makeup and drive eat and drive…I do not but I am an adult with plenty of driving experience. kids behind the wheel are dangerous and always have been. I am not trying to take away from the family’s tragic loss here. I just lost a member of my family this year to a drunk driver. What I am saying is ruining this kids life will not bring the man back. Kids are dangerous driving always have been always will be. I think there are better uses for the legal system and maybe they should have just gone after a civil suit for damages and placed real criminals behind bars. In context this kid will serve more time than many sex offenders.

    Report Post »  
  • thekuligs
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:29am

    Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Now if he had been texting while he plowed into the other vehicle I’d say lock him up for a lot longer than a year! But they failed to prove he had been texting while the accident happened they shouldn’t be able to just “make an example of him” which is what they are doing. I send a ton of text messages every day. Not while driving, but just before I get in my car, or while parking in the carpool line at school–and last time I was in an accident (someone hit me) I was sending a ton of text messages afterwards. To my husband, the roadside assistance people, the babysitter, my mother. Does that mean they are going to get to claim I was texting while driving because I sent messages before and after? That is insane.

    Report Post » thekuligs  
    • Homeschoolmama
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 3:00pm

      I have sent texts on my husband’s phone for him while he was driving. Does that mean if we got in an accident he would be guilty of texting just because they came from his phone? What if I was unable to say that I was the one doing the texting? This punishment is really excessive considering they could not prove that the texting caused the accident.

      Report Post »  
  • spudwhite
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:19am

    This was manslaughter which in this case is that which is termed elsewhere as gross negligence vehicular homicide. He killed a man. And he gets ONE YEAR in prison for it. Shame on the “justice system”.

    Report Post »  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:09am

    While I think texting and driving is incredibly stupid, if he actually wasn’t when the accident happened, then this sounds like a verdict from frustration with idiots on the road who do it and drive us all crazy. I think laws forbidding it are correct, and I am not fond of new laws. This was a prosecution over every texter, not just this kid. Ruining his life may teach alot of people a lesson, but if he wasn’t texting I have a feeling real justice has been run over. I am not comfortable with this verdict.

    Report Post »  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:25am

      A convicted child molester will not even lose their license for 15 years!

      The penalty seems a bit harse considering other crimes involving intent and hate. He did not intend to hurt anyone. If he had reached for a pack of smokes or was changing the channel on his radio and had done the same thing, then wouldn’t he be liable under the same laws? One would think so! So this case will be cited for any distracted driving where an accident is caused and jail time will result. Better have both hands on the wheel, no eating and driving etc or you might just find yourself sitting in a cell next to this otherwise upstanding citizen.

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • Dahart
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:06am

    I think they went too far….prison is for the worst of the worst…heck you can go to jail for cheering for your kid now……so what’s next?

    Report Post » Dahart  
    • ObamaTookMyJob
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:28am

      Putting someone in jail for marijuana…..

      Report Post »  
    • kansas hawks 3
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:29am

      And you don’t think killing someone because your to stupid to keep your eyes on the road is part of the worst of the worst ? When you get behind the wheel you put other lives in danger when you don’t pay attention. End of story.

      Report Post » kansas hawks 3  
    • luxlife
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:31am

      He took a life.

      Report Post » luxlife  
    • IceHawk00
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:59am

      This kid got off lightly. This is criminal negligence that resulted in death and serious injury. This should have been first degree manslaughter. At the very least 2nd degree for 2 counts. People piss and moan about people that own guns, meanwhile nobody stops to realize that you don’t need anything but cash or credit and a license given out to you for practicing the most basic skillset imaginable to purchase the most deadly weapon even created – the modern automobile.

      The bottom line to this is that this was caused by a completely (and very easily) preventable measures that were simply ignored and resulted in somebody’s demise. I have no sympathy for this kid. And for those of you saying “oh it’s not so bad“ or ”that’s just a ridiculous and arcane punishment for this!” put yourself in the victim’s shoes and ask yourself: if somebody being killed due to a complete disregard of any sort of common sense or simply not caring isn’t a big deal, then what is?

      Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:04am

    While I hate to see a young person sent to jail, I also can’t believe that he killed a father of three and is only going away for a year.

    Report Post »  
    • Apple Bite
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:21am

      I think they made that decision under the impression that it wasn’t a planned event or because vehicles were involved….whatever. Those three kids will never see their father again.

      On the flip side, do you put everyone in jail for life if they been in an accident and the other driver died because of it? Slippery slope…

      Report Post » Apple Bite  
    • Locked
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:35am

      @Apple

      Not for life. But only a year? Either way, he should never drive again. Yes, people always make mistakes… but sometimes the result is too big to overlook, accidental or not.

      Report Post »  
    • Matt
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:35pm

      Its because he is only 17. When you are under 18 you can only go to jail until you are 18 unless there is criminal intent in the crime and the crime is quite heinous. Niether factors are true in this case, therefore, he can legally only go to jail for a year.

      Report Post »  
    • Heb4Seven
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 6:49pm

      I agree, I am stunned that we can wrecklessly take someones life (and ruin a family) , ‘knowing’ we are doing something we shouldn’t…and only get a couple years for this!!
      @Apple Bite: ” On the flip side, do you put everyone in jail for life if they been in an accident and the other driver died because of it? Slippery slope…”.
      I’d say YES. Maybe not jail for ‘life’, but at least 5yrs and/or voluteer time working in hospitals, fire dept. etc; AND have pay some sort of restitution ‘out of their own income’ to the family….perhaps for the rest of ‘their life’, ESPECIALLY, if it is drunk driving or any kind of ‘careless’ act. behind the wheel that led to a death. That’s a punishment I would at least expect to get.

      Report Post »  

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