Taco
01-13-2009, 03:04 PM
http://radio.woai.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=119078&article=4837187
Doctor's Death Linked to Cell Phone
SUV driver answered cell call just before striking doctor, killing him
By Jim Forsyth
Monday, January 12, 2009
Police say the driver of an SUV on Bandera Road had just received a cell phone call when he lost control of his SUV, ran off Bandera Road, and struck and killed Dr. Alex Sanchez, Chief of Medicine at the Emergency Room at University Hospital.
Dr. Sanchez was pronounced dead on arrival at his own ER, 1200 WOAI news reports.
A police report listed 'inattention to driving' caused by 'cell phone use' as the cause of the incident, which happened on Bandera Road near Loop 1604 Sunday afternoon.
The driver of the SUV, Philip Smith, 46, of New Braunfels, told police that he was in the process of taking his 2005 Ford Explorer in to a shop to have the brakes and the tires repaired when the incident occurred.
No charges have been filed in the case.
Dr. Sanchez, 52, was appointed medical Director of the Emergency Room at University Hospital last summer.
Since that time, hospital officials said today he has made 'significant improvements in wait times, efficiency, and overall customer service.'
"Dr. Sanchez was a man with great passion for his work, and great compassion for his patients," University Hospital said in a statement. "His leadership, clinical skills, and commitment to our mission earned him the respect of his colleagues at the UT Health Science Center and at University Hospital."
Smith told police he answered his cell phone 'then noticed Dr. Sanchez jogging. He hit the breaks and the car slid off the roadway striking Dr. Sanchez jogging on the shoulder."
Several proposals have been introduced in the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature to restrict cell phone use behind the wheel, and the Texas DPS has called for the use of cell phones by drivers to be banned entirely, citing safety concerns.
Doctor's Death Linked to Cell Phone
SUV driver answered cell call just before striking doctor, killing him
By Jim Forsyth
Monday, January 12, 2009
Police say the driver of an SUV on Bandera Road had just received a cell phone call when he lost control of his SUV, ran off Bandera Road, and struck and killed Dr. Alex Sanchez, Chief of Medicine at the Emergency Room at University Hospital.
Dr. Sanchez was pronounced dead on arrival at his own ER, 1200 WOAI news reports.
A police report listed 'inattention to driving' caused by 'cell phone use' as the cause of the incident, which happened on Bandera Road near Loop 1604 Sunday afternoon.
The driver of the SUV, Philip Smith, 46, of New Braunfels, told police that he was in the process of taking his 2005 Ford Explorer in to a shop to have the brakes and the tires repaired when the incident occurred.
No charges have been filed in the case.
Dr. Sanchez, 52, was appointed medical Director of the Emergency Room at University Hospital last summer.
Since that time, hospital officials said today he has made 'significant improvements in wait times, efficiency, and overall customer service.'
"Dr. Sanchez was a man with great passion for his work, and great compassion for his patients," University Hospital said in a statement. "His leadership, clinical skills, and commitment to our mission earned him the respect of his colleagues at the UT Health Science Center and at University Hospital."
Smith told police he answered his cell phone 'then noticed Dr. Sanchez jogging. He hit the breaks and the car slid off the roadway striking Dr. Sanchez jogging on the shoulder."
Several proposals have been introduced in the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature to restrict cell phone use behind the wheel, and the Texas DPS has called for the use of cell phones by drivers to be banned entirely, citing safety concerns.