Bicyclists Thomas Hoskins (L) and Lee Ann Barry were killed by a distracted driver in 2007 (The State)

$5 MILLION AWARDED TO FAMILY OF BICYCLIST KILLED BY DISTRACTED DRIVER

It may not yet be illegal to use your cell phone while driving in South Carolina, but Palmetto State motorists now have five million reasons to go hands free or hang up.

That’s the sum of money awarded to the family of a bicyclist, Thomas Hoskins, killed by a distracted driver in 2007: $5 million. The family of a second bicyclist killed in the incident, Lee Anne Barry, won a $2.5 million settlement in Lancaster County in December.

The driver, Sharon King, pleaded guilty to reckless driving in the deaths of Hoskins and Barry. Her insurance provider will pay the damages to both families.

“It’s been a long time and a difficult time,” Thomas’ widow, Sherri Hoskins, told The State newspaper. “We are forever changed, and my kids are fatherless.”

Lawmakers are currently debating a measure to ban texting while driving in South Carolina. Legislation introduced by State Sen. Kevin Bryant (R-Anderson) would make it a secondary offense to use a hand-held device while driving — meaning an officer must stop a driver for committing some other moving violation.

But the bill would provide a stronger legal argument for civil cases similar to Hoskins and Barry when a driver is at fault for using a cell phone.