From: glen mccready 
  To: 0xdeadbeef@substance.abuse.blackdown.org
  Cc: bostic@bsdi.com
Date: Wed, 08 Apr 1998 16:40:08 -0400

Forwarded-by: William Knowles <erehwon@dis.org>

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) [4.8.98] - A French driver killed a 
cyclist and injured another after she took her eye off the road 
trying to save her Tamagotchi virtual pet, police said Wednesday.
 
The 27-year-old woman became distracted when the electronic pet, 
which was attached to her car key ring, started to send out 
distress signals.
 
She asked a companion in her car to attend to the Tamagotchi but 
in the confusion she failed to notice a group of cyclists on the 
road ahead and slammed into the back of them. One died instantly 
and another was taken to hospital.
 
Police said the woman was arrested after Sunday's accident near 
the southern city of Marseille. A magistrate was investigating 
whether charges should be brought.
 
Tamagotchi virtual pets, egg-shaped devices invented in Japan, 
have become a worldwide fad. They send out electronic bleeps 
when they need "feeding" or "cleaning." If they are not looked 
after they "die."