Haverhill Teen Tried and Convicted of Homicide in Fatal Crash Resulting From Texting While Driving

The car accident occurred on February 20, 2011 on River Street in Haverhill. Aaron Deveau, then seventeen, crossed the centerline and smashed head-on into Donald Bowley’s car, carrying him and Luz Roman, the sole passenger. Luz Roman, Bowley’s girlfriend, suffered from collapsed lungs, broke all of her ribs and her pelvis and leg were fractured. Bowley unfortunately suffered massive injuries and did not survive; he died in the hospital on March 10, 2011.

The teen claims that he was not texting at the time of the accident, but that he sent and received four text messages in the minutes preceding the crash. Deveau is charged with violating the new Massachusetts state law that makes it a crime when a driver injures someone during a crash while texting and driving. He is also charged with negligent motor vehicle homicide and the prosecutors and trying to persuade jurors that his texting while driving warrants a criminal conviction.The Safe Driving Law Ch 90/8M(5) states, “Operators cannot use any mobile telephone or handheld device capable of accessing the Internet to write, send, or read an electronic message including text messages, emails, and instant messages or to access the Internet while operating a vehicle. Law applies even if the vehicle is stopped in traffic.”