Authorities have determined that a cell phone was the cause of a vehicle collision that resulted in the death of an 18-year-old Hephzibah High School student. Authorities say that an investigation has shown that the Wisconsin woman received a message on her cell phone five minutes and 20 seconds before emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene of the accident. Police claim that the time lapse accounts for the time it took for people to hear the accident, recognize it was an accident, check to see that it was an accident, call 9-1-1 and tell information to the dispatcher.

The woman was traveling westbound in the 1900 block of Hephzibah McBean Road when she lost control of her vehicle and struck a power pole, snapping it in half and causing her to be ejected from the vehicle, which burst into flames. The woman was trapped under the vehicle and suffered massive burns, which caused her death.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of all those connected with this tragic accident.