Spring Hill driver reaching for phone leads to crash, troopers say

By TBO.com
Published: June 02, 2009

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A Hernando County woman fumbling with a cell phone was blamed for a serious crash Monday night in Sumter County, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Jessica Balmer, 20, of Spring Hill, was driving north along U.S. 301 near County Road 470 at 9:25 p.m. and dropped her cell phone, troopers said. Balmer reached for the phone on the car's floorboard, and her car crossed into oncoming traffic and hit an SUV head-on, troopers said.

The SUV's driver, Phillip Trotman, 45, of Webster, and his passenger, Barbara Trotman, 71, of Ulysses, Kan., received serious injuries and were transported to Orlando Regional Hospital. They are expected to recover from their injuries, troopers said.

Balmer was taken to Orlando Regional Hospital.

Balmer was charged with failing to maintain a single lane, according to a highway patrol report.