HOUSTON -- A friend of a woman accused of causing a fatal car crash while talking on her cell phone testified on Wednesday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

It was the third day in the trial of 24-year-old Jeri Montgomery.

Prosecutors said Wilcox caused a three-car wreck on Interstate 45 near F.M. 2920 that killed Chance Wilcox, 25, on March 24, 2008.

A close friend of Montgomery's testified she was talking to Montgomery on the cell phone around the time of the accident. Their call was disconnected, but it remains unclear whether the dropped call happened because of the accident or extenuating circumstances.

A sheriff's deputy, a man from a third car in the accident and a coroner also took the stand.

Defense attorneys said they have one more witness to call before they make their closing arguments. If convicted of negligent homicide, Montgomery faces two to 10 years behind bars.

Montgomery's trial comes on the first day of a national summit on distracted driving in Washington, D.C.

Government officials released data showing one in six accidents are caused by people who are not focused on the road.

In 2008, nearly 6,000 deaths and more than 500,000 injuries were blamed on distracted drivers.

Drivers below the age of 20 were the worst offenders and drivers under 29 years old account for the majority of accident fatalities.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called distracted driving accidents an "epidemic" and urged for stronger laws, enforcement and public education.

"We know this problem isn't limited to private citizens," said LaHood. "Incredibly, bus drivers, train operators, truck drivers, and even school bus drivers have allowed distractions to interfere with their work."