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Motorist Gets Probation for Killing Elderly Pedestrian While She Text Messaged From Behind the Wheel
Photo by George Fairbairn via Shutterstock
It's three years' probation for a young woman who took the life of an elderly pedestrian in Glendale last year while she used her cellphone to text message while behind the wheel.
When then-20-year-old motorist Ani Voskanian of Tujunga was arrested in December for her role in the September, 2010 death of an elderly pedestrian, Glendale mayor Ara Najarian said their city was suffering from a "distracted driver epidemic."
Voskanian pleaded no contest today to the charge of gross vehicular manslaughter. The District Attorney, however, said the prosecution objected to the plea being accepted today, because "this is not a case that is appropriate for early disposition."
However, Burbank Superior Court Judge Patrick Hegarty took Voskanian's plea and ordered the probation. As part of probation, Voskanian must do 300 hours of community service, including talking to junior and senior high school students about the dangers of texting and driving. She also is not allowed to use a cell phone while driving, explains officials from L.A. County.
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