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The Associated Press

Truck driver accused of using smartphone before fatal crash

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A Wisconsin truck driver accused of using his smartphone before causing a fatal accident in eastern Minnesota is facing criminal charges.

Washington County prosecutors say 28-year-old Wayne Hicks, of Independence, Wisconsin, is charged with criminal vehicular homicide in Tuesday afternoon's crash that killed 54-year-old Robert Bursick, of Amery, Wisconsin.

Prosecutors say Hicks admitted to texting with his girlfriend and searching an app for houses on his phone prior to the crash in Lake Elmo. The complaint says Hicks was going 63 mph and made no effort to stop before rear-ending Bursick's vehicle. The collision was so severe that officers were unable to determine the make and model of the car.

Prosecutor Siv Yurichuk said video from inside the cab of the truck shows Hicks before the crash.

"The driver is seen and appears to be looking at his phone for at least an entire eight seconds before striking the vehicle," Yurichuk said. "He doesn't appear to look up into the windshield until the point of impact, or after the point of impact, once he's realized he's hit somebody."

Bursick was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hicks could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison if convicted.