Teen to be tried for texting crash death

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HAVERHILL, Mass., May 28 (UPI) -- A 18-year-old boy will be the first person tried in Massachusetts for motor vehicle homicide while texting, officials said.

Aaron Deveau is accused of drifting across a double yellow line in Haverhill in February 2011 while he was allegedly using his mobile phone to text, police said. Deveau's car crashed into the car of 55-year-old Donald Bowley, of Danville, N.H., who suffered brain damage and died 18 days later.

Deveau's trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday, the Boston Herald reported Monday.

Massachusetts police spokesman David Procopio said getting drivers to put away the phones has proved to be a challenge.

"With texters, we've got the added problem of age and experience," Procopio said. "They are often teens and young adults, and thus are not seasoned drivers and have the false promise of invincibility that youth brings. ... There is always going to be a segment of the driving population we are not going to reach through education and deterrence. That doesn't mean we stop trying -- we won't -- but for now the challenge remains."