Council Bluffs police say a teen left the roadway and hit a man after looking down at her phone

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WEBVTT NEWSWATCH 7'S CAMILA ORTIIS LIVE.CAMILA: BOTH KYLEIGH SEVERN ANDKEN HILL ARE STILL SHAKEN UP.JUST A FEW HOURS AGO, KYLEIGHSEVERN WENT TO THE HOME OF KENHILL TO APOLOGIZE IN PERSON.>> [KNOCKING]CAMILA: A SOMBER EXCHANGE.>> I JUST WANTED TO APOLOGIZE TOYOU IN PERSON.PLEASE KNOW THAT I AM VERYSORRY.>> YOU ARE FORGIVEN.CAMILA: FORGIVENESS, JUST 15HOURS AFTER KEN HILL WAS HIT BYTHE WOMAN WHO SHOWED UP AT HISDOOR.COUNCIL BLUFFS POLICE SAYS --SAY IT HAPPENED JUST AFTER 10:00ON THURSDAY NIGHT.THE DRIVER, KYLEIGH SEVERN.>> I LOOKED DOWN FOR A COUPLE OFSECONDS AND THEN I HEARD MYSELFCRASHING.CAMILA: CHANGING A SONG ON HERPHONE WHEN SHE LEFT THE ROADWAY.>> I JUST THOUGHT I HIT A TREE.>> THEY SAID I HAD A CONCUSSION.CAMILA: BOTH OF THEM WERE ABLETO WALK AWAY AND ABLE TO HAVETHIS MOMENT.KYLEIGH SEVERN REQUESTED TO SEEHIM IN PERSON.CAMILA: AN IMPORTANTCONVERSATION ABOUT DISTRACTEDDRIVING.AND IT IS A MESSAGE KYLEIGHSEVERN SAYS SHE WILL NEVERFORGET.>> IT IS LIFE-CHANGING.IT OPENS YOUR EYES.IT IS NOT WORTH IT.IT TAKES A SPLIT SECOND.CAMILA: KYLEIGH SEVERN WAS CITEDFOR UNLAWFUL USE OF ANELECTRONIC DEVICE.THE PENALTY CARRIES A $100 FINE.POLICE WANT TO REMIND PEOPLETHAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO USE THESEDEVICES.

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A Council Bluffs man is recovering from minor injuries after police say he was hit by a car near North 28th Street and Avenue G.Officers say the teen driver, 18-year-old Kyleigh Severn, told police she was looking down at her phone when she left the roadway, hitting 36-year-old Ken Hill and a tree just after 10 p.m. Thursday.Severn told KETV that she didn't realize she'd hit a person until she got out of her car and noticed Hill on the ground, unconscious. "Right then and there I was like, I just messed up someone's life," Severn said.Hill says he hardly remembers the crash, but recalls walking in the grass along North 28th Street, which does not have a sidewalk."The only thing I remember was waking up in the hospital," Hill said.Police say he's lucky to have only suffered a concussion and minor scrapes. Hill was treated and released.On Friday, Severn told KETV that she wanted to apologize to Hill in person, but did not have a car to drive to his home, so KETV brought Severn and Hill together."I just wanted to apologize to you in person and know that I am very very sorry," Severn said after Hill answered the door."You're forgiven, you're forgiven," he responded.Severn said she was changing a song on her phone when she swerved up on to the curb. "All it takes is one second, one second to look down at your phone and it can change everything," Severn said.Hill says he feels lucky to be alive, and hopes Severn and others learn about the dangers of distracted driving from this experience."A lot of people don't know the danger of it until something like that actually happens," Hill told Severn.It's a message Severn says she will never forget."It truly is life changing and it really opens your eyes," Severn said, "it's not worth it at all."Severn was cited for unlawful use of an electronic device. If convicted, the penalty carries a fine of $100.50.Iowa law was changed in July, making it illegal for drivers to use their phones for anything other than calls, including while stopped for traffic signals or stop signs. Using a phone illegally while on the road is now a primary offense, meaning officers can pull you over for that alone.