Honk News- A Colorado teacher was convicted on Friday for the tragic death of a 10-year-old child, caused by her distracted driving while texting.
Ashley Weiss, a middle school educator from Timnath, located approximately 9 miles southeast of Fort Collins, has been convicted by a jury of careless driving that led to a fatality.
On the evening of August 2, 2023, at approximately 6 p.m., Weiss was operating an Audi SUV while distracted by her phone when she collided with Oliver “Ollie” Stratton, who was cycling on Saddle Horn Drive in Timnath. According to the local Sheriff, Stratton was transported to the hospital where he was declared deceased.
She acknowledged that she had been texting while driving right before the accident happened — and quickly deleted the messages, according to reports from the Coloradoan. Before her trial on December 16, Weiss reportedly entered a guilty plea for tampering with physical evidence.
Weiss will receive her sentencing for the misdemeanor charges on March 7, facing the possibility of a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, according to KUSA 9.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Stratton’s grieving parents, Clarissa and Rod, expressed that they do not view the verdict as “justice” due to the relatively lenient punishment given to Weiss. They are advocating for legal reforms that would enforce harsher penalties for distracted driving, aiming to elevate Weiss’ offense from a misdemeanor to a felony.
Read More: A Mother and Daughter Were Beaten and Robbed Over a Parking Space Disagreement at Citadel Outlets
“We call on Colorado and other states nationwide to pass tougher laws and harsher penalties that will truly hold distracted drivers accountable,” said Stratton’s parents. “The District Attorney’s office did everything it could under the current system, but we all must do more.”