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A 17-year-old woman carved a path of destruction through a suburban Barrie neighbourhood Tuesday morning while trying to simultaneously drive, text and get control of a cat, police say.

The teen was allegedly texting, holding a pet cat and driving at a “high rate of speed” when she lost control and careened into a neighbour’s front yard — smashing through two parked cars, a boat and a house before coming to a stop.

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The house was a home daycare and a woman was reportedly carrying her child to the front door at the time of the crash.

Police estimated the total damage to be more than $100,000.

The crash came just three weeks after the Ontario Provincial Police issued a public warning that “texting and driving don’t mix.” Thirty five people were killed on Ontario highways as a result of distracted driving in 2010, said police.

The woman was charged with careless driving.

National Post