Texting Tragedy
Last week someone I know received a phone call that would change her life forever. Her sixteen year old nephew—her brother’s only child— was in a car accident.
He had his license and brand new truck for one week. The road he travelled was one he frequented. He wasn’t late. But he was speeding. And like many teens as well as adults, he was texting.
His aunt showed me the short distance between the tree he hit and the skid marks. He couldn’t have been more than a few feet away when he looked up and saw that tree. It was too late. The impact was so severe that one of his legs was severed. He didn’t know it. He made a phone call to his mother to tell her that he was in a wreck. He told her he loved her and that he was so sorry. He mentioned that he couldn’t feel his leg. He then called 911. He called his mother again and told her to hurry. He called 911 again and told them that he smelled fumes.
When his parents and the emergency crew arrived the car was already in flames. His father burned his hands trying to save him. It was too late.
His aunt didn’t know how the accident happened until after the funeral. Her flight there was delayed due to snow. I could hardly hold it together listening to the story. Over 700 people attended her nephew’s funeral in the midst of heavy snowfall. What love this boy had from his family, friends and community!
The boy’s mother was one of many who spoke at his funeral. I cannot comprehend her grief. I try to imagine her pleading with those present to learn from this. But I cannot fathom such loss.
I will tell you that I’ve talked incessantly to my girls about texting while driving. But if I’m going to be honest, then I have to tell you that I have been guilty of doing it. It’s not often. But does that matter? I don’t think so. I reason that I am just reading the text. And on the occasion that I reply, I’ll begin at a stop with the intention of completing my text at the following stops. But I find myself finishing messages once I’ve resumed driving. The majority of the messages I send and receive are from my teenage daughters. And I’ve been careful to only text while driving in their absence. What a hypocrite. As I’ve said, it’s not often. But it doesn’t matter.
The instant contact of text messaging can be of great help in today’s time. However, it has an almost hypnotic effect that demands attention. In spite of laws forbidding texting while driving the reality of the danger involved does not seem to be hitting home. But for me, it has now.
This story is one that leaves you at a loss for words. A knot forms in your stomach and you find yourself crying out in agony and praying for people you don’t know. When I first shared this story with Courtney I had not yet learned what caused the wreck. I picked her up from school and stopped by Sonic to buy her a snack. She, like me, did not know this boy. She doesn’t know his family. But after hearing the news she passed me her cheese sticks. “I can’t eat,” she told me.
Such a sickening feeling. But will it impact us enough to make some changes? I hope so. It certainly has for me. When my phone vibrates in response to a text message sent, I hope that I remember the family of this young boy and pray for them. And I hope you will, too.
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