Man Sends 39 Text Messages While Driving, Receives 4 Years In Prison After Killing A Man

Keeping eyes and awareness on the road is crucial to avoiding accidents. For almost a decade, studies have repeatedly shown that those who text while driving are much more likely to get into a crash. When taking your eyes off the road, a mere five seconds can end in tragedy. In just five seconds, a car driving 55 miles per hour can travel the length of a football field.

A driver in Quebec was recently convicted of negligence and his role in the death of another driver and the injuries of two teens in 2012. Houston Today reports that Martin Carrieres, 39, had sent more than 30 texts while driving on a poorly lit stretch of road in March of that year.

Judge Maria Albanese found Carrieres guilty on charges of criminal negligence causing bodily harm in April of last year. Her sentence for the defendant was handed down in January. Carrieres received four years in prison in order to send a very clear message that texting and driving do not mix.

The accident happened in the area of Quebec’s Laurentians. Carrieres was exchanging a series of messages with his wife and a female friend he was on his way to meet. Records obtained from Carrieres’ provider indicated that there was a total of 34 texts sent between the three individuals between 9:18 p.m. and 9:58 p.m.

This was about the time that the car Carrieres was driving collided with another oncoming vehicle. Inside was a male driver along with his 13-year-old son and a friend who had previously been at hockey practice.

The driver died at the scene of the crash.

Carrieres had no previous convictions and expressed remorse. The judge said that any sentence she could have imposed would have been inadequate compensation for the victims.