The Dangers of Texting While Driving: Man Releases Final Text Message (1197 hits)
..MONTREAL - A series of heartwrenching text messages is being used by the boyfriend of a car accident victim to warn people to pay attention when driving.
Mathieu Fortin has created a Facebook page to get the word out in memory of Emy Brochu, who died Jan. 18 when her car slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer truck as it merged with traffic near Victoriaville, Que.
Brochu and Fortin had exchanged loving messages before her last one.
"I love you too and I will do all I can to make you happy, Mr. Fortin," she wrote.
Fortin replied with a smiley-face icon, followed by a message saying, "Me too, bb" and another one with a series of XXXXs, denoting kisses.
The next set of messages, which Fortin posted on Facebook, have him telling her he wants to "hear her beautiful voice" but then growing fearful after he hasn't heard from her in a few hours.
"Is everything going well, my love?" Fortin wrote. "I'm a bit worried."
Provincial police did not immediately attribute a cause to the accident — although they said they were looking into the possibility of a distraction, such as a cellphone.
"The police investigation showed the use of a cellphone while driving was the cause of the accident," Fortin wrote on Facebook. "This conclusion came as a shock because during the tragedy, I was in a discussion with her."
Fortin says reading the last messages shatters his heart into a million pieces.
He urges people to learn from his story.
"An accident can happen quickly," he writes. "I hope every time you look at your cellphone while you're driving, you think of Emy and those who loved her.
"At what time is a text or an email more important than life itself? At what point is something on your phone more important than the people that you love?"
Fortin describes Brochu as a joyful, determined woman who had a wonderful future.
He urges his friends to pass his message onto others, warning them to consider they might run over a child crossing the road if they're not looking out.
Fortin's message received a slew of responses from friends expressing their sympathy and promising to pass it on.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version said Brochu's last message was a series of XXXXs, indicating kisses. That message was from her boyfriend
Me, too! I know that its dangerous, but from having read this story I've turned over a new leaf on life. Life is far more worthy of having to say my I love yous in person. A text will wait while I'm driving.
Keep that car parked until you actually need it Saint!
Oh no... I thought you guys were running away from the high fuel prices! Lol
Saturday, March 17th 2012 at 4:56AM
Jen Fad
Texting and walking is bad, and when I see someone walking and texting I give a holler to be careful where they're going. In a car, I often can't get their attention.... So you know that's even worse. I hope many texters and driving people will take that in text and keep their eyes on the road.....
Saturday, March 17th 2012 at 1:19PM
MIISRAEL Bride
So true Miisrael and what about these people walking and listening to their Ipods, eh? It's just a real bad thing to do. Kids can't hardly walk and chew bubble gum so what the heck are they doing texting, eh? On a serious note though, I need to put the devices down when I'm driving because its a real dangerous thing.
