On November the 15th, 2007. I died. I died when my husband, Charles G. Chuck Stoecher, was killed when a 17-year-old driver who was texting, speeding, passed on the double yellow line, decided to text, came across a two-lane state highway … and hit my husband head-on and killed him.
Weida's world came crashing down when her college sweetheart, the love of her life, and her husband of 33 years was killed in a car accident. Despite his attempts to drive defensively, Charles' car had been hit so hard that the hood and trunk were dented completely upwards. The accident left a lasting impact on Weida and her four children. Her two daughters will never see their father walk them down the aisle. Her two sons lost their greatest role model.
Now, Weida is helping change laws stiffening penalties for distracted driving. "If I can save one person from going through the devastation that we have felt, then I feel like I'm being successful," she told her local news station. 45 states have made texting while driving illegal, and 14 prohibit the use of handheld cellphones while behind the wheel. But even strict laws and chilling advertisements can't prevent all accidents.
Your life, and the lives of those you love, are worth more than a few characters on a screen. Watch Weida tell her heartbreaking story in the video below, and please SHARE to spread awareness about texting-while-driving.
