Driver Convicted of Texting While Under the Influence to be Sentenced

November 4, 2009 According to reports by at least one DUI lawyer, sentencing will be early next month for Jeffery Francis Woods, who was earlier convicted of driving under the influence and killing a 14 year old bicycle rider.

Wood´s is facing up to ten years in prison after an August 29, 2007 crash when he struck and killed a 14 year old bicycle rider while driving under the influence of Vicodin and Xanax. At the time of the crash Wood´s had been text messaging in search of drugs.

According to authorities the accident occurred after 2:00 p.m. when he was driving in an erratic manner, following other vehicles too closely and crossed several lanes of traffic in the eastbound lanes of Indianapolis Avenue. Crossing lanes of traffic ending up in the oncoming lanes he struck the bicycle rider, throwing him approximately 200 feet.

The rider landed in lanes of traffic and Wood then struck a palm tree, drove through a wall coming to rest in the backyard of a home. The teen that was struck and killed was Daniel Oates, who was riding his bicycle to his friend´s house when Woods crossed lanes of traffic and struck him on the wrong side of traffic lanes. Oates had been wearing a helmet at the time he was hit and died from multiple blunt force trauma caused by impact.

Authorities stated that the text message that was sent one minute prior to the accident said "need bars?" This according to authorities is the street name used for the prescription drug Xanax.

Woods whose attorney claimed he had suffered a seizure at the time of the crash was not believed by the jury and the 22 year old will face sentencing December 11th for one felony count of vehicular manslaughter by lawful act with gross negligence while intoxicated and one felony count of driving under the influence.