TEXTING AND DRIVING

DON’T BE A STATISTIC

Courtney Ann Sanford

The most recent tragedy occurred on April 24th 2014, to 32 year old Courtney Ann Sanford who was taking selfies and she had posted it on facebook as her status about the hit song Pharrell’s “Happy” at 8:33am. At that time, her car crossed the highway median, crashed in to a truck in High Point, North Carolina and caught on fire. The truck Sanford had hit crashed into a tree. Sanford was simply on her way to her third day of work at a new job as a respiratory therapist.

John Breen

Joan Breen was 23 years old, and a United States Marine and was about ready to deploy to Afghanistan. He was willing to sacrifice his life for our country, and it is hard to believe a little 2 inch by 4 inch box ended his beautiful life Sunday afternoon on March 15th 2009. While heading out to Afghanistan, Breen was texting his friend while driving when he suddenly lost control of his vehicle and veered off the road. He was ejected from the vehicle and died on sight from a massive skull fracture leaving behind his little girl who will never fully understand how amazing her daddy was.

Alexander Heit

If this text looks unfinished to you, well, its because University Northern Colorado student Alexander Heit was in the middle of texting a friend when his car swerved into oncoming traffic. While the other car had slowed down and tried to get out of the way, Heit jerked his wheel, lost control of his vehicle and rolled his car off the road on April 3rd 2013. Heit was only 22 years old at the time of his death.

Emily Brochu

On January 18th 2012, 20 year old Emily Brochu was having a texting conversation with her boyfriend, Mathieu Fortin, while driving her car. Moments after she sent a text, she slammed her car into the back of a tractor-trailer in Victoriaville, Quebec. She died Instantly, with the phone still left on her hand.

Taylor Sauer

This fatal message implies that 18 year old Taylor Sauer clearly knew the potentially dangerous consequences of commenting on a Facebook status update on January 14th 2012. Sauer was on her way to her parents house in Idaho, driving from Utah State University Logan’s Campus and been on Facebook talking to her friend to pass the time for the 4 hour drive. Sauer was driving about 80 miles per hour when she slammed into the back of a tanker-truck that was going uphill and about 15 miles per hour. She died instantly on the scene.

Mariah West

Mariah West died at the young age of 18 in 2009, on the day before her high school graduation. She was replaying to a text message from her friend “Where you at”, while she was driving on her way to her friends baseball game. While she was responding to the message, her car hit a bridge, skidded on it’s roof, and headed into on coming traffic. West was partially ejected from the car and her skull was crushed. She survived 8 days in the hospital, before passing away.

Our Deepest Condolences

• On behalf of Humber’s FYE Community and Service Outreach Committee we are terribly sorry for the those who have lost someone while texting and driving. We wanted to do this campaign to create awareness for students to understand the severity behind texting and driving. But also to spread the word that your life is the most important, and to take care of yourself while driving behind the wheel. Please be careful, and don’t be a statistic.