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Texting blamed in accident that cost man both legs

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By JENNIFER LEIGH | News Channel 8

Published: November 10, 2009

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• Texting, driving don't mix

Stephen Horne

Manny Mejia

BARTOW - Polk County authorities say Stephen Horne will have to live with one of those choices in life that can't be undone yet changes everything.

The 26-year-old Bartow resident is accused of texting while driving and ultimately causing a catastrophic crash that cost another man both legs.

The victim in this case, according to the State Attorney's Office, is 20-year-old Emmanuel "Manny" Mejia, a Florida Refuse employee who was working behind a trash truck on the morning of Aug. 25. That's the day officials say Horne was texting when he slammed his 2007 Suzuki into the back of the garbage truck, leading to the loss of both Mejia's legs, a finger and a thumb.

"Life will never be the same for Manny," State Attorney Jerry Hill said.

Hill said his office is specifically linking the texting to the crash, making this a first of its kind case in the 10th Judicial Circuit, which includes Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties.

"This conduct was the result of a choice. This conduct was the result of (Horne) saying, "I'm going to focus my attention on something other than this dangerous instrument that I'm behind and rolling down the street in,'" Hill said.

Co-workers of Manny Mejia say they see distracted drivers all the time. Florida Refuse driver Jessica Sorrels said she constantly worries about the employees riding on the back of her truck, and she was devastated to hear what happened to her friend.

"There's really not words that you can say. You just have to treat him like he was before and not really look at what has happened and try to continue on to make everything better," Sorrels said.

Florida Refuse employees are planning a charity motorcycle ride Dec. 5 to benefit Mejia. They've also set up a Bank of America account to benefit his 3-year-old son, Manny Jr..

In the meantime, Horne faces a felony charge of reckless driving with serious bodily injury. If convicted he could face up to five years in prison. He was being held today at Polk County Jail with bail set at $15,000.

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