The First Baptist Church of New Braunfels suffered a heartbreaking blow after it lost thirteen senior parishioners in a South Texas bus crash. Those victims were returning home after an annual three-day Baptist retreat when their vehicle was hit by a young driver who was allegedly texting while behind the wheel.
Cellphone video of his erratic pickup was captured by some good Samaritans who were driving behind him. They can be heard imploring the police to come stop the dangerously erratic driver and reacting with fear and disbelief as the truck weaved all over the road. Despite the couple’s altruistic attempts, no one could stop him before he careened around a turn and colliding with the bus. The Samaritan said that after the crash, the pickup driver told him that he had been texting.
Church members gathered to support each other after hearing the heartbreaking news, and one woman offered: “Lift us up. Lift this church up. Lift the people on the bus up. And even the driver of the other car. Keep praying and praying. There’s power in prayer.” Only one church member in the bus survived, and she has returned home from a rehabilitation center.
AAA says that six out of ten crashes involve distracted driving. Texting, calling, playing apps, reaching for objects, clowning, turning and talking to others, and grooming are all examples of distracted driving. Young drivers are particularly guilty of participating in these behaviors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that in 2015, 3,477 lives were claims due to distracted driving. There are three types of distracted driving:
Texting is exceptionally dangerous because it combines all three disruptive behaviors. And of course, the more texts are exchanged, the more dangerous it becomes. The importance of social interaction for teens, their penchant for risky behaviors, and the fact that their cellphones go anywhere they do makes texting and driving a real temptation for most of them.
Texting while driving is on the rise, and just as anti-drunk-driving campaigns helped raise awareness about those dangers, some brutally real public service announcements have tried to make the risk of texting and driving seem like the very big deal that it is.
We work with so many Texans who have to deal with injury and loss situations that might have been avoided had another person only been more careful. If a distracted driver hits you, we have the experience and legal know-how to find the highest compensation available for your case.
If you’ve been hurt in any type of traffic crash or other personal injury event, call us today to find out how we can help you. Colley & Colley, LLP is committed to putting all our decades of experience to work for each client. Schedule your free consultation by completing the form below or by calling 1-877-411-2001.
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