A Colorado teacher was found guilty on Friday of killing a 10-year-old child while texting behind the wheel of her car. Ashley Weiss, a middle school teacher from Timnath, located about 9 miles southeast of Fort Collins, was convicted by a jury of careless driving resulting in death.
The tragic incident occurred on August 2, 2023, when Weiss was driving an Audi SUV while texting. Around 6 p.m., she struck Oliver “Ollie” Stratton, who was riding his bike on Saddle Horn Drive in Timnath. Stratton was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after, as reported by ABC 7 Denver, citing the local sheriff.
Weiss admitted to texting and sending messages just before the crash, but she deleted the messages shortly after the incident. Before her trial began on December 16, Weiss pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence, as reported by the Coloradoan.
Weiss now faces sentencing on misdemeanor charges on March 7, where she could receive up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, according to KUSA 9.
Stratton’s grieving parents, Clarissa and Rod, expressed their dissatisfaction with the verdict in a statement to People. They feel that the punishment Weiss received was too lenient, as it did not align with the severity of the crime. “We didn’t see the verdict as justice,” they said, calling for legal changes that impose harsher penalties on distracted drivers, including making Weiss’ offense 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,” the Strattons said. “The District Attorney’s office did everything it could under the current system, but we all must do more.”
The Strattons are lobbying for stiffer laws to prevent further tragedies, as they believe the current system does not fully address the dangers posed by distracted driving.