Lost cell-phone caller drives into river, dies

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 8/16/10 | Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer

[SmithL]

ISLETON, SACRAMENTO COUNTY -- An Antioch woman died after she drove off a boat ramp and into the Sacramento River while she was talking on a cell phone with her daughter, asking for directions, authorities said today.

. . .

Just before the call was cut off, Collier told her daughter that her car was filling up with water and to phone her insurance company,

[Scythian]

Sad, but then how many other people are killed by people talking on phones, a lot ...

[Responsibility2nd]

Just before the call was cut off, Collier told her daughter that her car was filling up with water and to phone her insurance company,

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I guess she had no time to ask her daughter to call the funeral home.

[MrEdd]

Darwin award

[sodpoodle]

That is either a tragic accident, a suicide or a replay of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yyKrS8jwSY

[Blueflag]

Tragic.

But OMG. Darwin award winner. “My car is filling with water. Call the insurance people.” Can people not think critically anymore?

Check the polls this November. She will have voted, again.

[dfwgator]

Rule #1 - In life there are no ‘do overs.’

[Grunthor]

Sometimes stupidity hurts, sometimes it kills.

[maine yankee]

“Lost cell-phone caller drives into river, dies”

The language is dying also.

the cell phone was not lost.

[WackySam]

For some reason I don’t feel so bad about this.

[Retired Greyhound]

This is why men don’t ask for directions.

[discostu]

Can’t win the Darwin if they’ve already bred, the award is for removing themselves from the gene pool.

[RobRoy]

>>This is why men don’t ask for directions.<<

Congratulations!!!! You are the official post of the day winner!!!

[RobRoy]

>>Darwin award<<

Nope. Only honorable mention. She was talking to her daughter.

[cardinal4]

What? The HOPE bumper sticker didn’t float?

[ConservativeMind]

Crazy.

[MEGoody]

This is why men don’t ask for directions.

I never could understand why, if someone is lost, they don't STOP and then ask for directions. It's nearly impossible to get or give directions when the landmarks keep changing.

"Okay, now there's a 7-11 on the corner. Oh, I should have turned right? Well, now there's a Bank of America on the corner. Oh, I should have turned right? Now I see some big boats and some water."

[Domandred]

She paused briefly before driving into the river, the CHP said.

Yep, that line in the article erases any kind of sympathy I had.

[sportutegrl]

If she would have rolled down the window while the car was still above water, she would have been able to get out after it sunk. Too busy talking on the phone, I guess.

[WOBBLY BOB]

NOT an excellent driver (ping)

[Lazamataz]

“Lost cell-phone caller drives into river, dies” The language is dying also.

I would have written it "Lost cell-phone drives while calling into river dies."

That's better, right?

[oh8eleven]

It's nearly impossible to get or give directions when the landmarks keep changing.
"Recalculating."

[Kartographer]

If she would have just called me before she drowned I could have saved her 15% or more on her car insurance!

[shadowcat]

So much for guys asking directions!

[goseminoles]

LOL!!! Even a caveman can roll down a window.

Her last words? Blub, blub, blub....

[Zhang Fei]

If she would have rolled down the window while the car was still above water, she would have been able to get out after it sunk.

Once the engine compartment is submerged, I think the power windows become inoperable.

[RichInOC]

Okay, did she really not notice the “road” led straight into deep water?

Dear God, that’s weapons-grade stupid.

[Riley]

I know those roads, I used to drive them or ride them every day. Not too hard in some places to take a flyer off the levee and into the river.

The secret to dealing with it, is to pay attention.

[Finny]

Once the engine compartment is submerged, I think the power windows become inoperable.

There are a lot of ways power windows can become inoperable, and count on it happening at the worst time. Nearly ruined the inside of a nice car once in a rainstorm, and nearly fried everything in sight on a hot day when the AC wasn't working. That's why, when we replaced my old van with a new F150, I insisted that it have hand-crank windows. It's also a stick. You never know when you're going to have to push-start a vehicle! (Beside, sticks are more fun to drive, and many if not most of criminals who might steal your vehicle couldn't drive a stick to save their patoots).

[DemonDeac]

Darwin at work.

[JRios1968]

I lived in Antioch from 2004 to 06, and drove the 160 and 12 everyday to and from Travis AFB while I was activated. If she was in Isleton trying to find her way to Antioch, she shouldn’t have been driving in the first place.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=isleton+ca&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Isleton,+Sacramento,+California&gl=us&ei=yx9qTM-zN4nEsAOZ57Q6&ved=0CBsQ8gEwAA&ll=38.102144,-121.606293&spn=0.301504,0.727158&z=11