PRESS RELEASE

March 4, 2009

 

WOMAN CONVICTED OF FELONY GROSS VEHICLUAR

MANSLAUGHTER WHILE TEXTING

 

 

Deborah Ann Matis-Engle, 49, of Shingletown, was convicted today, by jury, on 1 felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter.  Matis-Engle will be sentenced on March 18, at 4:30 in Department 8.  She faces a maximum of 6 years in state prison. 

 

The fatal collision occurred on HWY 44 on August 13, 2007 shortly after 5 pm.  At the time of the collision, HWY 44 had been under construction for approximately 5 months.  Matis-Engle drove through this construction zone daily for work in Redding during this time.  On the day of the collision, Matis-Engle was traveling home from work when she passed eight construction signs warning her to use caution and be prepared to stop for construction.  The posted speed limit on this strip of road was 55 mph hour. 

 

The stretch of road leading up to the collision location was a half mile long straight away with no visual obstructions.  The victim, Petra Winn, was parked at the end of a long line, approximately 700 feet, of cars stopped waiting to be escorted through the construction zone.  Verizon Cell phone records revealed Matis-Engle had been using her cell phone to conduct three separate bill paying transactions in the final four minutes before the collision.  At the time Matis-Engle’s vehicle struck Petra’s vehicle, Matis-Engle was in the middle of paying her cell phone bill via text messaging.  Matis-Engle was traveling 66 mph hour at the time of impact. 

 

Petra was on her way to her boyfriend’s house in Shingletown after purchasing meat for a Bar-B-Que when she was rear ended by Defendant.  Petra’s vehicle burst into flames as a result of the collision.  Three citizens attempted to rescue her from her vehicle but were unsuccessful.  Petra died in her vehicle as a result of the collision.   

 

The case was investigated by the California Highway Patrol Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team and was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett.