| Stephen Lewis: Killings case should teach us all about cell phones |
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By: STEPHEN LEWIS, Post Columnist
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Posted: Sunday, February 14, 2010 7:03 am
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By the time you read this former Sheriff's Detective Ron Killings may already know his fate. As I write this the prosecution has rested its case and the defense is up next.
In case you've been under a rock or are new to the area, Killings ran over a young girl on Bradyville Pike just short of two years ago. The girl, Lakeisha White, was visiting her grandmother during the summer and was crossing the road late in the evening when she was struck by Killings’ car.
To many people this looked like a horrible accident caused by a child doing what children do sometimes: acting impulsively in a dangerous situation. But as the facts started to come out the case started to take on a whole different look.
The prosecution showed evidence that Killings was driving approximately 70 mph one second before he hit the girl. A witness testified that he was talking on his cell phone when the accident happened. Even more troubling was the bottle, or bottles, of alcohol Killings apparently tried to dispose of at the accident scene.
All of this complicated the matter and made it into more than just a horrific accident. At that point it became a possible crime scene.
I suppose I need to say that I don't know Ron Killings and have never met him. I certainly have no ax to grind with the sheriff's department or law officers in particular.
Unfortunately for them, most of society expects them to not only uphold the law, but to be vigilant in obeying it as well.
If the evidence the prosecution submitted is true then this particular officer fell somewhat short of those expectations and I suppose he will have to pay for his crime if he is found guilty.
In my opinion the saddest part of this case is that not one person who has heard of this young girl's tragic ending will put down that cell phone when they're driving. And do you know why?
Because it won't happen to them. And it never does. Until it does. And then someone is dead again.
Like just this past week when a 6-year-old boy, who loved being a Cub Scout, was killed in Middle Tennessee by a hit and run driver. The police may or may not find the driver but it's highly likely that he/she was distracted by something, driving drunk, or speeding, and doesn't want to own up to it.
So God bless Lakeisha's family and Ron Killings as well. I can't imagine suffering through the loss of a child or suffering through the pain of taking the life of someone else's child.
And I pray I never do. |
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