Here are some lessons that we as a society should never stop advocating, no matter how many times they are read to us.
You know the lessons I’m talking about. I’m talking about things like the importance of treating all people equally, the critical importance of providing a good education for our children, and the dos and don’ts of operating heavy machinery like driving a car.
These are things we’ve learned many times before, but they’re always worth reminding ourselves. Take the last of these three topics, for example.
I hope all of our readers know how dangerous it can be to drive without proper care and attention, especially given the number of horror stories we’ve heard recently.
While you’ve probably heard plenty of stories about the disasters that can happen when someone acts irresponsibly behind the wheel, you’ve probably never heard a story like this.
This story happened ten years ago, in 2014, but we at Newsner believe the message it conveys is just as important today.
It tells the story of a woman who died in a head-on collision on an American highway moments after posting a selfie and updating her Facebook page while driving.
Author/memoir Courtney Sanford
As reported by The Independent, Courtney Sanford (32) posted a status on Facebook at 8:33 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2014, with the text: “A happy song makes me SO HAPPY.”
Police were reportedly called to the accident, which occurred at 8:34 a.m.
Authorities explained that Courtney was alone in the car when it crossed the median before it collided with a recycling truck and burst into flames.
Police confirmed they found no evidence that alcohol, drugs or speed played a role in the fatal crash, but High Point police spokesman Lt. Chris Weisner said the incident was a warning “that shows what happens when you text while driving.”
Source: Shutterstock (archive photo, not directly related to the article)
“In a matter of seconds, her life fell apart just to tell a few friends that she was happy. It really wasn’t worth it,” Ms. Weisner said.
“While it’s sad, it’s also a grim warning to everyone… just be careful when driving.”
The driver of the recycling truck, 73-year-old John Wallace Thompson, escaped the accident uninjured.
Although this story is painful, it should remind us that distracted driving has no good consequences.
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