Records link cell phone use to accidents

SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Cell phone use has contributed to thousands of Texas automobile accidents since 2005, according to records obtained by a San Antonio television station through an open-records request.

WOAI examined the Texas Department of Transportation database and found that investigating officers cited cell phone use as a contributing factor in more than 17,00 accidents with more than 7,500 injuries and 167 deaths. San Antonio led the state with 1,611 crashes in the past five years.

San Antonio attorney Mitchell Ginsburg told the station he’s seen an increase in cases involving drivers distracted while texting or talking on their phones, with many of those cases more severe than others.