my drive to boston made the headlines

For Driver, Eating At The Wheel Takes A Bad Turn
By Rebecca Taylor
The Register-Guard
Published: Thursday, August 16, 2007

Everyone knows fast food contributes to obesity, heart disease and other health problems - but car crashes?

It's true. A man eating a fast-food breakfast sandwich while driving Wednesday morning choked on a savory morsel and lost consciousness behind the wheel, Eugene police said.

While blacked out, Benjamin Galen, 25, of Boston slammed his white Suzuki rental car into the back of a parked car on Goodpasture Island Road near Ridgeway Drive in north Eugene, Sgt. Doug Mozan said.

After the wreck, Galen came to and stepped out of his car. When witnesses asked if he was OK, he said, "No, I'm not," and collapsed, Mozan said.

Paramedics revived the man and took him to Sacred Heart Medical Center for evaluation. He was not injured, but his car and the Mazda he hit each sustained more than $1,500 in damage.

Mozan credited Galen's survival to a "seat-belt-induced Heimlich maneuver" and the quick response of medics and officers.

Galen's morning smash-up is a cautionary tale for multitasking motorists.

"We urge people to take the extra time to pull over to the side of the road to enjoy your breakfast sandwiches," the sergeant said.

The same goes for talking on cell phones, looking at maps, reading the paper, doing the crossword, applying makeup and text-messaging friends, he said. It's best to do these tasks somewhere other than the driver's seat.

"The fact that it was a nonfatal accident was extremely lucky," Mozan said. "He didn't choke to death or take anyone else with him."