HICKORY, N.C. — State lawmakers are considering a bill that would add significant jail time for distracted drivers involved in deadly crashes.
Parents of a man who was struck and killed are pushing for the changes after the driver only spent a few weeks behind bars.
The man who died was sitting on his motorcycle at a red light in Hickory when a woman drove a vehicle into him.
She told officers she looked down, and when she looked back up, she couldn't stop in time, according to the police report.
More than three years after the accident that killed Jonathan Todd, it is still difficult for Saundra Spencer to talk about the accident that killed him.
"It was pretty upsetting," Spencer, who witnessed the wreck, said. "She never did. She never did brake. She just kept on going."
On that day, Sarah Cheek struck and killed Todd on North Center Street, police said. She was later charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. Todd's parents were in court when they said a judge sentenced her to just 30 days of jail time.
"He was always there for us, and he cared for us, and we miss him and still do," Todd's mother, Frankie Todd, said. "And I don't wish this on anyone."
Cheek was cited for three different traffic infractions prior to the crash that killed Jonathan Todd, records show.
His parents asked state lawmakers to consider changing the law, creating harsher punishments of up to one year for some deadly wrecks.
The charge would be aggravated misdemeanor death by vehicle.
"We feel like that we might provide some incentive to people to pay more attention, distracted drivers and people that don't really pay much attention to the laws," father Ted Todd told Eyewitness News reporter Dave Faherty.
Roderick Bryce lived right next door to Jonathan Todd, and they often worked in their yards together.
He hopes the proposed law will keep others from being hurt.
"It has to be some type of awareness made to that person so they know this is not something you can do continually and get away with it," Bryce said.
The proposed law has already overwhelmingly passed the state Senate, family members said.
House members are expected to have their final vote Wednesday morning.
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