BAKERSFIELD, CA - Trial continued Friday for a woman accused of killing another woman while texting and driving. Witnesses told the jury, based on evidence, it's likely Anna Marie Reynosa was distracted and speeding when she hit Charla Wilkins.
The prosecution continued Friday, calling up a former Kern County medical examiner and an expert in inattentive driving. Both agreed with police analysis of the crash.
Reynosa sat emotionless in the courtroom. She's accused of hitting and killing 20-year-old Charla Wilkins the night of April 14, 2012. Wilkins was stopped on a motorcycle at an intersection at the time.
Police claim Reynosa was traveling about 65 miles per hour, 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit of 45. On Friday the medical examiner, who preformed the autopsy on Charla Wilkins, said based on the victim's injuries that is true.
"The chances of getting the neck dislocation on lower speeds becomes less," said Dr. Greg Pizarro, former Kern County medical examiner.
Then the prosecution brought in a distracted driving expert. Police contend that prior to the crash, Reynosa was fiddling with her cell phone. Based on the fact that Reynosa showed no signs of stopping before the crash, Dr. Sheila Clauer believes Reynosa was distracted.
"It appears to me that that behavior is very consistent with someone who is not paying attention to the forward roadway," said Dr. Clauer, a distracted driving expert.
But, the defense pointed out that Dr. Clauer is being paid for her testimony, $300 an hour plus a $3,000 retainer. Public Defender Ernest Hinman also asked Dr. Clauer about her cell phone use.
"Ma'am have you ever read or written a text while driving or surfed your phone?" said Hinman.
"I've used GPS," said Dr. Clauer.
"Must not be that dangerous, right?" said Hinman.
Unphased, the Dr. stuck to her analysis.
The prosecution is expected to wrap up Monday. Reynosa is the first person in Kern County to be prosecuted on a manslaughter charge accused of texting and driving.