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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg "She was delivering a crib to her daughter when this happened ... If folks are looking for an evil person in this case, she doesn't fit the bill." (http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/not-guilty-plea-in-alleged-nail-polish-fatal-crash.html)

http://www.youtube.com/v/q09mqgVxub0&hl=en&fs=1&Ralph Zahorik - CHICAGOBREAKINGNEWS (http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com) - Oct 8, 2009

Original story (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21659). Bottom line: she was not paying attention --Ed.

About 60 motorcyclists, all with black polish on their fingernails, gathered this morning at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan to watch Lora L. Hunt of Morris plead not guilty to reckless homicide in the so-called "nail polish" crash near Lake Zurich last spring.

Anita Zaffke, 56, of Lake Zurich, was killed May 2 when Hunt's Chevrolet Impala struck her motorcycle from behind at the intersection of Route 12 and Old McHenry Road.

Hunt, 48, could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

Hunt is free on $100,000 bond and her trial is scheduled for Dec. 7.... http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/not-guilty-plea-in-alleged-nail-polish-fatal-crash.html

October 10, 2009 9:50 AM[/COLOR]"]
I know this accident is extremely sad for all parties involved. However, now that the case has started, I think people will be surprised when they hear exactly how this accident happened and that this in fact is not about a woman painting her nails and bluntly plowing over a motorcyclist. When the evidence is revealed many will be enlightened.Plenty of other comments on this article.

Disagreed with this commeter: I predict the degree of distraction in court testamony will be indefensable.

Motorcycles only bring ear-splitting noise and death.

Motorcycles only bring ear-splitting noise and death.Having a bad-hair day?

Kind of strong?

It's a sad situation, no doubt about it. I wonder what the statics are for accidents related to 'distraction' whether it be nails, cell-phone, radio, kids in the back seat or whatever.
I think one person got it right in their comment by saying "The only job you have to do when behind the wheel is drive!"

So how do you fix something like this?

I remember when this happened, it was only a few miles from my home. Naturally, Ms. Hunt will plead not guilty and hope for luck as she rolls the dice with the jury. Probably not the best move, though, seeing as how this rather infamous collision (I don't use the word "accident" because killing someone while a driver is painting their nails, texting, or in some other way multitasking in not an "accident," it's completely avoidable) has been extensively discussed word-of-mouth around here, in the media and even in Congress recently as distracted driving laws are debated in committee.

Ms. Hunt will have a hard time finding a juror without a strong opinion on the matter in this area, and it's quite possible she'll get the book thrown at her (and she should). Ms. Hunt may not be an "evil" person and I have no doubt that she did not intend to kill anyone that day. Nonetheless, she is an incredibly ignorant and self-centered person with incredibly poor judgment and lack of concern for the safety of others who will be held accountable for her poor choices. In the meantime, I'll have to watch out for bikers myself as I drive through the Lake Co. courthouse area every day on my way to work.

One reason I could not be on a jury like that is I know how self-absorbed aggressive drivers act when they don't cause a collision - i.e. people driving as poorly as Lora Hunt self-rightously ranting like everyone else is the problem. I personally can cite at least two instances, including a woman angry because "I was in her way" as she flew into a church parking lot, then had disturbed written all over her face the next 90 minutes.

They generally are wrathful if they don't cause a wreck - why should we be lenient when they do?

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg "The defendant was completely out of control," he said. "Her feet were so far away from the brake pedal that she might as well have been making a sandwich in the back seat." (http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=378819)

http://www.youtube.com/v/q09mqgVxub0&hl=en&fs=1&Ralph Zahorik - Daily Herald (http://www.dailyherald.com) - May 6, 2010

Original story (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21659). Bottom line: she was not paying attention --Ed.

A jury of eight women and four men took about 3½ hours Thursday to find Lora Hunt guilty of reckless homicide in the death of motorcyclist Anita Zaffke.

Hunt, 49, now faces up to five years in prison for the May 2, 2009, crash in which prosecutors said she was painting her nails moments before her car plowed into Zaffke's stopped motorcycle at a Lake Zurich intersection.

Hunt showed no visible reaction when the verdict was read, but her attorney said she began to cry and said "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.".... http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=378819

















Follow-up:

She's Guilty! Convicted of Reckless Homicide. http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/05/jury-deliberations-begin-in-fatal-nail-polish-crash.html