JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Westside man is recovering in the intensive care unit after he was run over by a fellow church member who was talking on the phone.
Chuck Jensen was walking home from Schindler Drive Baptist Church when he was struck by another church member at the intersection of Hipp and Canfields roads. Police say the man driving was on the cell phone, but a citation was not issued because it is legal to talk on the cell phone while driving in Florida.
Now there are new questions about that law. More than 10 million drivers in the U.S. are using their cell phones at any given time, and they spend a good portion of that time in a vehicle. Seven states, including California and New York, have laws on the books banning handheld cell phone use behind the wheel.
Action News spoke with Pastor John Green at Schindler's Baptist Church right after visiting Jensen at Orange Park Medical Center. He says Jensen, a new member of the church in his 40s, has bumps and bruises all over his body, but is in good spirits.
"He was able to say 'I forgive the man who hit me, tell him that's okay and I'm okay,'" Green said.
While many may focus on Florida's laws, Jensen is just happy to be alive.
"As a matter of fact, he was wishing that he could come to church tonight, that's what he wanted," said Green. "He said I look forward to being at church that's what I look forward to all week."
