Texting and Driving Accidents We Should Learn From

Man texting while drivingOne of the most common and dangerous distractions behind the wheel is a cell phone, and using a cell phone to send a text while operating a vehicle can be deadly. With April being Distracted Driving Awareness Month, motorists should take the time to realize just how dangerous texting and driving can be.

According to Distraction.gov, the risk of a driver getting into a crash is 23 times higher when he or she is texting behind the wheel. Unfortunately, too many drivers either ignore or are unfamiliar with the high crash risks associated with texting and driving and have to find out the hard way just how dangerous it is.

Here are three accidents that may help highlight the dangers of texting while you drive:

College Student’s Ominous Text Behind the Wheel

Chance Bothe is lucky to be alive after surviving a horrific crash that was a result of texting while driving. After sending a text while behind the wheel of his truck, Bothe, a 21-year-old college student, was involved in a near-fatal accident.

On Jan. 24, 2012, his truck flew off of a bridge and crashed into a ravine. The front end of the truck was crushed, the engine was in his lap, and the car’s roof crushed his forehead and shook his brain.

Bobby Bothe, his father, told news station news station KTRK “The truck caught on fire. They dragged him out and then they sent him to Victoria. It was bad, real bad.”

As a result of the crash, Chance broke his sternum, neck, both ankles, had his face crushed, and suffered traumatic brain injuries. “I was told he wouldn’t live. I was told he’d be blind,” Bobby said.

What makes the story more interesting and ironic is what he reportedly texted before the accident. KTRK reported that before the accident he angrily texted, “This is dumb. If we keep doing this I’m going to wreck my truck, going to get in a car crash.”

Fortunately, the ending in this story isn’t as bad as it easily could’ve been. After spending six months recovering in the hospital, Chance went home. Hopefully his experience can help prevent others from making the same decision that he did that almost cost him his life.

“God saved my life somehow. I know I died like three times but God didn’t keep me away from coming back here. I have a higher purpose in being here. And I think it’s to tell everyone not to text message and drive,” Chance said.

Parents Hope You Learn from Their Tragic Loss

Another, less fortunate accident caused by texting and driving occurred on April 3, 2013, in Greeley, Colo. Alexander Heit, a 22-year-old University of Northern Colorado student who was studying audiology was killed in a car accident in what police have determined to be a result of Heit losing control of his vehicle while texting and driving.

The Greeley Tribune reported that Heit was traveling eastbound and began drifting into a lane of oncoming traffic. According to witnesses, when Heit looked up, he jerked the steering wheel, over-corrected, and rolled and flipped the vehicle. Police were called to the scene shortly after 5 p.m. and Heit was taken to North Colorado Medical Center where he later died.

During the accident investigation, officers found Heit’s cell phone that showed he had received a text at 5:16 p.m. that read, “Hey man I had to run out for like an hour.” Sadly, a partial response was typed but was never sent. It read “Sounds good my man, seeya soon, ill tw”. A photo of the phone’s display can be seen here.

Heit’s parents are sharing his story and hoping that others will learn from his mistake.

Sharon Heit, Alexander’s mother, said this through a statement released by the Greeley Police Department:

“I can’t bear the thought of anyone else having to go through something like this. Please, vow to never, NEVER text and drive. In a split second you could ruin your future, injure or kill others, and tear a hole in the heart of everyone who loves you.”

Woman Survives Car Fire

Jamie Nash is another victim of the dangers of texting while driving. On June 27, 2010, the then-27-year-old experienced a life changing event.

According to Nash, her car hit a culvert, flipped a couple of times, landed against a tree and pinned her inside. After the car caught on fire she was trapped inside for 20 minutes and was burning alive.

It states on her website that the crash resulted in burns to over 70 percent of her body, being in an induced coma for 10 weeks and undergoing 30 surgeries.

Nash’s father reviewed her cell phone records and confirms that she was texting at the time. Jamie admits that she was a motorist that always had her phone in hand.

Jamie now speaks at schools and business to teach others how serious the dangers of texting and driving are.