May 5, 2009 1:50 pm US/Eastern
Driver Painting Nails Hits, Kills Motorcyclist
Biker Thrown 200 Feet In Lake Zurich Accident
LAKE ZURICH, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Anita Zaffke was stopped at a red light when a Chevy Impala, driven by a woman in her 40s, struck her motorcycle from behind.
A woman painting her fingernails while driving is accused in a deadly crash with a motorcycle in northwest suburban Lake Zurich over the weekend.
Anita Zaffke, 56, died about an hour later after suffering apparent chest and abdominal injuries from being thrown from her Honda Shadow, Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller said.
Lora Hunt, 48, is facing misdemeanor charges in the deadly motorcycle crash. Hunt had been painting her nails when the accident occurred, CBS station WBBM-TV reported.
The victim's son, Greg Zaffke's fingernails are painted black to express outrage over what happened.
"My mother was a very intelligent woman," Greg Zaffke said. "She was very strong, independent."
"She has been painting her nails while driving her vehicle," said Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran. "She conceded to us that she was not paying attention, did not see the motorcycle in front of her stop."
Zaffke was stopped at Route 12 and Old McHenry Road heading southbound towards home when the Hunt's Chevrolet Impala slammed into her back tire. The force threw Zaffke's motorcycle 200 feet up the road.
A Monday autopsy found Zaffke died of multiple internal injuries to the chest and abdominal area, as well as a spinal fracture, according to Keller, who said the death has been ruled an accident.
WBBM-TV stopped by the driver Lora Hunt's home Monday, but we were quickly sent away.
"You need to leave," a man said.
Hunt wasn't arrested Saturday and was simply given a ticket for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Hunt was also hospitalized following the crash for non life-threatening injuries.
Zaffke says Hunt needs to pay for what she did.
"The maximum prosecution, jail time," Greg said. "My mother's gone because of it."
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