A 20-year-old man who caused a fatal crash while talking on his cell phone last year in Salt Lake City was sentenced Monday to probation and 500 hours of community service.     Theodore Andrew Jorgensen was not ordered to serve any jail time in connection with the March 18, 2007, death of 17-year-old Lauren Mulkey, in part because the victim's mother preferred an alternative.
    Linda Mulkey told 3rd District Judge Randall Skanchy that talking to students and other groups about distracted driving would be more beneficial than jail time.
    Defense attorney Ronald Yengich said he has already arranged for Jorgensen to speak at the University of Utah in January.
    Jorgensen had pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.
    In addition to talking on a cell phone, toxicology tests indicated Jorgensen allegedly had ingested marijuana prior to the collision.
    As part of a plea deal, prosecutors also recommended no jail.
    Mulkey died when Jorgensen ran a red light at 1300 East and 2100 South and slammed into her vehicle.
    After the hearing, Linda Mulkey said she and Jorgensen had talked about teaming up to tell their stories - hers about the loss of a daughter and his about causing a death. 
"It's going to be powerful," Mulkey said. "Hopefully it will save a lot of lives."
    Since her daughter's death, Mulkey has advocated against distracted driving and has started a Web site, http://www.hangupsavealife.com/.

Posted by Utah Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Attorney, Dustin Lance

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10947326

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