We all know not to text and drive, but admittedly, we all do it. Maybe you don’t text, but instead put locations into the map. Notifications don’t just turn off because we’re driving, so even if you’ve never “texted” while driving, there’s a good chance you’ve looked down to read a message.
Texting while driving is dangerous—we know that—but sometimes we need that extra kick-in-the butt reminder of just how easily a split-second look at our phone, could be the difference between life and death.
Unfortunately, Courtney Ann Sanford serves as that reminder today.
The 32-year-old was driving her red, Toyota Corolla to work one morning when Pharell Williams’ hit single “Happy” started beating out of her radio. If you’ve heard the song, you know it’ll put even the grumpiest of people in a good mood.
The tune did just what you’d expect it to do—it made Courtney feel happy. So as the song played, and she made her way down the road to work, Courtney made the life-changing decision to tell others how happy she was in that moment. That moment was her last.
“The happy song makes me HAPPY!”
Six words was all it took for Courtney’s car to drift across the median at 40 mph and crumble in a head-on collision with a dump truck. The Corolla flew off to the side of the road where it crashed into a tree and caught on fire.
Investigators say the woman died immediately. She left behind her loving parents and two brothers who say she had a promising career in healthcare.
Police who responded to the accident say that Courtney’s Facebook post was published at 8:33 a.m. They were called about the wreck at 8:34 a.m.
Her story is the tragic reminder that this can happen to anyone. And that it’s FULLY preventable.
We all have the power to save a life today—whether it be your own or somebody else’s. It is our decision whether or not we’ll be responsible behind the wheel of a car. My prayer is that Courtney’s split-second mistake is what reminds someone else to put the phone down, and drive.
