Girl, 14, listening to her iPod, killed by speeding driver

[Hum]

A girl of 14 was killed by a speeding motorist as she crossed a road while listening to her iPod, an inquest has heard.

Jordan Bell, of Colchester, Essex, died near her home on the afternoon of March 21.

The inquest, in Chelmsford, Essex, has been told that the schoolgirl?s MP3 player was found in the road after the crash.

PC Charles Harris, who investigated the incident, said inquiries concluded that Mark Batten was driving his Volkswagen Golf GTi ?slightly lower than 40mph? in a residential street where the speed limit is 30mph.

Batten, 28, of Colchester, will appear before magistrates later this month after being reported for careless driving and driving with excess speed, the inquest was told.

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Dozens of friends and family members have left tributes on her Bebo internet page and a dedicated memorial website.

One friend drew a picture of an iPod beside the note: ?R.I.P. Baby.?

Another web user wrote: ?You will bring rock to the heavens!?

And one friend wrote: ?You didn?t deserve what happened to you. So gorgeous. You will always be loved and missed so much.?

source

[qdave]

ipod has nothing to do with the accident. everyone know that before crossing the road one has to check his right and left sides. and she obviously didnt do it.

[NEVER85]

ipod has nothing to do with the accident. everyone know that before crossing the road one has to check his right and left sides. and she obviously didnt do it.

Agreed completely. As sad as this is, it was her own fault for not looking both ways.

[+shift. MVC]

Drivers: Drive within the posted speed limit and keep on a look out for careless pedestrians that think they always have the right of way.

Pedestrians: Watch out for drivers that drive outside of the posted speed limit and think they always have the right of way. And look left and right (or right and left depending on where you're from)

So many of these accidents can be avoided if both parties are paying attention to their surroundings.

And an iPod could have had something to do with it in the sense that she might have heard the car coming.

Another reason why you shouldn't plug your ears while crossing the street.

[Dead Clown]

her own fault what a selfish child obviously thought she was king ****

[Green_Eye]

I always listen to music while crossing the road and never ever had an accident. I also make sure I look both ways at least twice.

Works a charm (Y)

Shame about the death at such a young age :(

RIP, condolences to the family...

[TheKindred]

The whole world is falling apart because this generation of kids thinks their lives need a soundtrack. I agree with shift.

[shihchiun]

Yeah, she may have technically had the right of way, but when it comes down to it, the speeding car always wins against flesh and bone.

[Andre S. Veteran]

You may look all you want, but you won't be able to react as quickly while listening to music. You'll hear the danger later and take more time to react after hearing it. Maybe you will see the car coming, but the signal of danger will be less clear to your brain because it's so busy analysing the complex sounds.

I crossed the street with my earbuds today and it felt very awkward. I looked three times instead of twice and still didn't feel very secure. I think I won't do it again.

[guruparan]

I always listen to music while crossing the road and never ever had an accident. I also make sure I look both ways at least twice.

But try to avoid listening to music atleast while crossing the road...(pressing the "pause" button & pressing back the play button is very simple ..

[Valerus]

I like the idea of looking where you're going and actually seeing the stupid vehicle coming at you.

[Berserk87]

OMG IPODS KILL!!!!!!!

why do they put ipod in the title instead of "mp3 player"

[Hum]

^ iPod is sexier :p

[Digitalx]

Atleast her friend could write a better note then "she was an hero"

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

I know everybody loves to blame the iPods, but she could have still been hit by the car even without the iPod.

I walked right out in front of a car once, portable music players had nothing to do with it, it was my own stupidity.

[d4v1d05]

I think the main point of the story is, the person driving the car was driving without due care and attention, breaking the speed limit which if he wasn't, he would've probably been able to react in time, stop his car, shout at the girl for not looking where she was going, and drive on to get where he was going...

Sorry, but I don't see what the mp3 player has to do with this. The driver was at fault for speeding.

[-Hiroshi-]

Tragic, but she needed to be more careful, however, the driver speeding if not charged, should probably be charged with manslaughter, or vehicular manslaughter, hell, even with murder for speeding..

On a lighter note.. at least she died "thinking differently" >_>

[Michael1406]

Not only does it not matter that it was an iPod, it doesn't matter than it was an mp3 player. Music + headphones would have sufficed, instead of advertising.

[DDStriker]

listening to music (and considering how loud they want to play it at) greatly effects your senses the whole point is to be immersed by the music

this could of been avoided if

a) the driver wasn't speeding (maybe he could of still hit her she may of just popped out)

b) the kid turned the damn mp3 off before walking across the road there not experienced enough to do both it seems so i'm willing to bet she just walked out without looking either way thinking shes king **** like another poster suggested

i'm putting this blame on carelessness from both parties

had she heard the car i'm sure she would of reacted a little better

[t0mbi]

poor girl...should of been more more careful! :(

[eLeM]

anything to advertise... geez

[d4v1d05]

listening to music (and considering how loud they want to play it at) greatly effects your senses the whole point is to be immersed by the music

this could of been avoided if

a) the driver wasn't speeding (maybe he could of still hit her she may of just popped out)

b) the kid turned the damn mp3 off before walking across the road there not experienced enough to do both it seems so i'm willing to bet she just walked out without looking either way thinking shes king **** like another poster suggested

i'm putting this blame on carelessness from both parties

had she heard the car i'm sure she would of reacted a little better

And what if she wasn't 14, what if she was a little kid who ran out in front of the car, we wouldn't be having this conversation... People think they can put the blame on younger people because they "listen to loud music" and "don't respect their elders" but when it comes down to it, it was 100% the driver's fault, "vehicular manslaughter", UT announcer etc... Granted, she could've been more careful, but what if this was in a quiet neighbourhood where there was rarely any cars. The article does say it was in a residential area, there could well have been younger children playing near the street, the driver took none of this into consideration...

[Azusa]

Follow this and you'll never have problems with speeding cars again we have designated crossings for a reason.

[d4v1d05]

Follow this and you'll never have problems with speeding cars again we have designated crossings for a reason.

We have designated, sign posted speed limits for a reason too...

[what]

her own fault what a selfish child obviously thought she was king ****

Yes. She deserved to die.

:rolleyes: