A Colorado teacher was found guilty on Friday of killing a 10-year-old child while texting behind the wheel oh her car.
Ashley Weiss, a middle school teacher from Timnath, about 9 miles southeast of Fort Collins, was convicted by a jury of careless driving resulting in death.
On August 2, 2023, about 6 p.m., Weiss was driving an Audi SUV and looking at her phone when she hit Oliver “Ollie” Stratton, who was riding his bike on Saddle Horn Drive in Timnath. Stratton was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead, according to ABC 7 Denver, citing the county sheriff.
She admitted to having sent and received texts while driving just before the crash occurred — and promptly deleting the messages, the Coloradoan reported. Just before her trial began on December 16, Weiss pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence, the outlet reported.
Weiss is scheduled to be sentenced on the misdemeanor counts on March 7, and she faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, according to KUSA 9.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Stratton’s bereaved parents, Clarissa and Rod, said they didn’t see the verdict as “justice” because Weiss got a comparatively light punishment. They are advocating for legislation amendments that would increase the punishment for distracted driving, including making Weiss’ violation a felony rather than a misdemeanor.
“We call on Colorado and other states nationwide to pass tougher laws and harsher penalties that will truly hold distracted drivers accountable,” according to Stratton’s parents. “The District Attorney’s office did everything it could under the current system, but we all must do more.”