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Pay Attention to the Road Drivers

This is a sad story all around. A young man's life ended, another was seriously hurt, and a Michigan State Trooper is serving time because his poor driving caused it all. Most drivers should feel bad and a little guilty, because most of us who get behind the wheel do have those moments when we knowingly speed and when we unadvisedly get distracted and don't pay attention to the road when we really should.

Off-duty trooper hits, kills pedestrian: woodtv.com

On November 30, 3 months after this needless accident occurred, off-duty MSP officer Daniel Parker was charged with manslaughter with a motor vehicle -- a 15-year felony -- indicating that he was driving in a "grossly negligent manner.

In a probable cause affidavit authorizing the charges against Parker, a Michigan State Police trooper in charge of the investigation told the judge that Parker was speeding before the crash, going at least 74 miles per hour {in a 55 mph zone}. The investigation revealed Parker's car left the road before the crash, indicating he was distracted for some reason, however investigators do not know what caused that distraction.

Sadly, there was peripheral damage as well, as Zachary's mother passed away in October and his father was continually frustrated with getting official reports about the investigation of the accident until it was made official in November.

December 14, Parker waived a preliminary hearing to plead guilty to manslaughter with a motor vehicle. In a packed courtroom evenly split between those supportive of the victim and those supportive of Parker, he told the court he was guilty and explained for the first time what happened on that August day.

"I'd been talking on my phone and I placed it on my seat, the passenger seat of my car," Parker told the judge. "And as I was traveling north on Stage Road, I noticed my phone had fallen off the seat."

While that was happening, Barber and his 14-year-old friend Donald Proctor were pushing a broken-down moped north on Stage Road. Parker hit them from behind.

"I had my hand on the steering wheel and I reached down to grab the phone, and as I did so I turned my car into Zachary Barber," he said.

As Parker spoke, it looked like he was having a hard time keeping his emotions in check.

When questioned by the judge about where exactly the boys were at the time of the crash, Parker said, "I'm not exactly sure where they were on the roadway, but I did strike them, sir."

Witnesses told 24 Hour News 8 that day Parker immediately got out of his car and started CPR on Barber. He was also one of the first to call 911 after the accident.

Though he faced a maximum of five years in prison, as part of a plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend he spend six months behind bars. If convicted of a felony, Trooper Parker would not be able to serve when he gets out.

Trooper pleads guilty in moped death: woodtv.com

A moment of inattention can mess up other's lives, and your own. Pay attention to the road when you're driving.

Pay Attention to the Road Drivers

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