An Ohio truck driver who was watching porn on his computer while driving and fatally collided with a disabled car on the New York State Thruway was sentenced to a minimum three years in jail. Thomas M. Wallace, 45, of Brook Park, Ohio, admitted he was tired and distracted by porn when he ran into and killed Julie I. Stratton, a 33-year-old mother of two, last winter. "Your conduct on this day, I can't think of any other way to say it, was just grossly, grossly irresponsible," said County Court Judge Robert C. Noonan.
The incident occurred in western New York, near Pembroke, last December. Investigators told the court that Wallace had been distracted because he was watching online porn on a laptop computer on his lap at the time of the crash; they also said he was driving on no more than 4 1/2 hours of sleep over the 27 hours prior to the crash, in violation of federal regulations. Stratton had hit a deer the morning of the accident, and was waiting in the passing lane in her car for authorities to arrive when Wallace's truck smashed into her. Wallace tearfully read a letter of apology before pleading guilty to second-degree manslaughter.
Recently, a Buckeye State woman was caught, uh, masturbating while driving. Colondra Hamilton, 36, was caught with a sex toy between her legs, and admitted to watching porn on her passenger's laptop computer while driving. She was charged with driving with inappropriate alertness.
