11 Investigates: Allegheny County among the worst in the state for distracted driving crashes

Cell phones are convenient, and some would say a modern-day necessity, but they can also be a danger on the roadway.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claimed over 3,000 lives nationwide in 2023.

Police say one of those killed was a woman from West Deer who died on her 10-year wedding anniversary.

Cinnamon Gilch died in a tragic car accident on Route 8 on August 4, 2023, when police say a dump truck driver caused a chain-reaction crash.

The accident occurred as she was preparing for her granddaughter’s birthday party.

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Police say the truck driver, Franklin Simon, was traveling at 52-57 miles per hour in a 40-mile-per-hour zone and was on a video call for 46 minutes while driving.

“What do I miss most about her? Her heart. She was the most giving person you would ever meet and that is what I miss,” said Jackie Hutz, Cinnamon’s sister.

The accident occurred when Franklin Simon’s dump truck crossed the center line and hit three vehicles before colliding with Gilch’s car.

Police charged Simon with involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle and reckless endangerment.

Simon’s attorney says his client’s accident was caused not by the video call, but by a problem with the truck’s brakes.

But officials say this case may be one example of the larger problem of distracted driving.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala says eight percent of all accidents are due to this issue.

11 Investigates has learned that Allegheny County ranks third in the state for distracted driving offenses, with 30 percent of offenders in their 20s and over 70 percent being male.

Pennsylvania’s new Paul Miller’s Law, which took effect this summer, prohibits drivers from holding a phone to text, email, or use the internet. However, CDL drivers like Simon were already prohibited from using handheld phones while driving under a 2014 Pennsylvania law.

Jackie Hutz emphasized the need for awareness about distracted driving, saying, “We don’t understand how distracted we actually are. And we’ve got to stop that.”

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