Family Wants Justice For Young Father Killed By Woman Accused Of Texting Behind The Wheel
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ)—There were raw emotions at a court hearing Friday in Anne Arundel County for the woman accused of causing the death of a motorcyclist because she was texting while driving.
Derek Valcourt has more on the family's calls for justice.
The young woman faces a slew of charges, including negligent manslaughter.
On Friday, her trial was postponed. The victim's family spoke exclusively with WJZ as they demand justice.
"I can never get my son back, and my granddaughter will never have her father," said Barbara Hartle, victim's mother.
The pain is still too fresh for the family of Jon Wesley Roberts, 30, of Virginia, killed last March in an accident prosecutors say was caused when Elizabeth Meyers, 20, was texting while driving.
"She needs to be held accountable," Hartle said.
It happened as Roberts was riding his motorcycle north along Route 3 in Gambrills. Meyers drove into Roberts' path as she tried to cross three lanes of traffic to get to the Royal Farms store.
Roberts died in the resulting crash.
The state's attorney told WJZ that prosecutors can prove Meyers was texting.
"We have an eyewitness who was walking in the area. He saw her driving with one hand on the wheel and the other hand looking down and texting. We also have cell phone records which confirm she was texting at the time," said Anne Colt Leitess, Anne Arundel County State's Attorney.
Meyers' attorney declined to comment.
At a court hearing in her case Friday, the victim's family, including his fiancée, spoke exclusively to WJZ.
"I understand that it was an accident. Accidents happen, but you know this could have been avoided," said Jessica Cooper, victim's fiancée.
Roberts' grandmother says Meyers deserves jail time for her mistake.
"So that she can think every single day about her actions," said Carol Meloy, victim's grandmother.
The family says they'll push for stronger texting while driving laws in Maryland and hopes Meyers' case serves as an example.
"If she had seen him, if she had paid attention instead of paying attention to her phone and just looked," said Joe Clark, victim's uncle. "Took that two seconds to look. Two seconds could have saved his life."
Meyers faces the possibility of up to 10 years in prison if she is convicted of the most serious charges when her trial begins May 12.
The victim's family has also filed a civil suit against Meyers and her mother. They say it was her mother she was texting and her mother's car she was driving.
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