Police say texting caused Mechanicsville teen's fatal crash

Investigators say Jennifer Flockhart, 17, of Mechanicsville, crashed and rolled her car because she was distracted while sending a text message.

That's the final conclusion from the crash July 5 in the town of Durant in Cedar County.  Investigators said they found Flockhart's cell phone lying next to her at the scene. Upon opening it, investigators said the phone showed one unfinished message, and the time of the message corresponded with the time of the crash.

The State Patrol said Flockhart was ejected when her car rolled and died from those injuries.  The report says she was not wearing her seat belt.

Flockhart was buried Saturday.

On July 1, the state of Iowa began enforcing a new law that bans all drivers under the age of 18 from using a cell phone in any manner while driving.  The law bans adults from texting while driving, but it does not ban adults from calling or talking on the phone while driving.

The State Patrol has said it is instructed to only issue warnings during the first year of the new law – to promote awareness of the change.  It is not a primary offense, meaning drivers can't be pulled over for solely using a phone in the prohibited actions.