MASON CITY – A texting teen who was cited after driving her car into a pedestrian has been fined after being found guilty on two charges following the incident.
Christian L. Bitker-Rasmussen, 16, was found guilty by judge Ronald J. Wagenaar on August 7th of failure to yield to a pedestrian within an intersection and use of an electronic communication device while driving. She was fined $100.00 for each offense and court costs, totaling $390.00. Her attorney was Mark Young.
Krista Mary, 33, of Mason City, was struck by Bitker-Rasmussen’s 1995 Ford Escort while crossing the street, walking northbound at the intersection of East State Street and Connecticut Avenue on Wednesday, July 10th at around 3:33 PM.
Police said that Bitker-Rasmussen struck Mary head-on, and she received head injuries and was transported to the Mercy Hospital Emergency Room by emergency responders, where she was hospitalized.
Phones should be banned while driving because more people are getting hurt each day
I would just like to point out that the driver was NOT a female. And i do agree that HE should have lost his license. But the law is the law. Sadly they charged him with everything he could have been charged with and yes paying for it even if the price is too low.
Bitker-Rasmussen must be his married name.
They also have to take the cell phones away from the PD since I see them talking while driving.
In the old days we could use CB’s because we all felt and acted like truckers. We walked and chewed gum at the same time. Kids today don’t have the focus like we did. We got high, drank, rocked out to Foghat, talked on the CB and drove absolutely perfectly every time we did.
I do agree they don’t have much focus, but I don’t think I would lump talking on the CB with texting. You can easily talk on the CB and keep your eyes on the road. If you are texting you are probably looking at your phone not the road.
She did wrong and injured someone but we have idiots here in town that have numerous assaults on police officers, wife’s,girlfriends, and they get off with a slap on their wrists and small fine, makes since to me. “NOT”
She broke the law, she was found guilty, she paid the price. Enough said.
@Barney-I bet you would feel different if it was your wife or mother that got hit.
I agree yank her license till shes 18 how about we up her insurance to sr-22 bigger fines this is bs. Say I go have a drink after work I risk losing my license. Texting and driving is worse and we needed to use this as an example to others. Hope the lady that was injured is doing kcco.
The city attorney represented her and she ended up only owing $390?? Unbelievable. Anyone know the status of the pedestrian who was hit? I do – and these situations go beyond what you see in the newspaper “was hospitalized”.
wouldn’t the city attorney have been the one prosecuting this?
This teen should lose her license until she is eighteen. What if she had killed the lady? It could have happened. Teach her a lesson and send a message to other teens that there is a penalty for being irresponsible.
Cell phones should be banned while driving, and fines should be high, this teen should lose her lis. for at least one year…Jim
Wise words.