JHS students pledge not to text and drive
Mariah West drove to meet a boy and never made it. The day before her high school graduation, she hopped in a car to meet him at his baseball game. Back and forth the two texted each other, the boy giving Mariah directions to the ball diamond. “where u at,” the message said.
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Mariah West drove to meet a boy and never made it.
The day before her high school graduation, she hopped in a car to meet him at his baseball game. Back and forth the two texted each other, the boy giving Mariah directions to the ball diamond.
“where u at,” the message said.
While she was reading and responding to the text, Mariah’s vehicle collided with a median and the girl died from injuries received.
Mariah’s story, as well as the stories of texting-related traffic accidents, were the topic of “The Last Text” an AT&T documentary. Jamestown College Character in Leadership students presented the dangers of texting and driving and played the video for students Thursday at Jamestown High School.
Like many motorists, Jamestown College sophomores Caitlin Diede, Haley Johnson, Suzanna Koll and Kelsey Mittleider admitted to texting and driving.
But not anymore, they agreed.
Not after learning 11 deaths each day are attributed to texting and that one-third of all crashes are related to cell-phone use.
So as part of their presentation, the JC students asked the high school students to promise not to text and drive. Each high school student received a green thumb ring saying “txting kills.”
Their goal is to raise awareness of the issue, but the also want to raise cash too.
JC’s don’t-text-and-drive campaign is actually a sub-project for the Character in Leadership class’ efforts to support Community Action’s Weekend Backpack program.
The Weekend Backpack program offers meals and snacks for students whose families have indicated they’d have trouble serving them. Children eat lunch and breakfast at school. But some families don’t know where they’ll receive their weekend meals, said RaeAnn Kracht, food pantry coordinator.
Character in Leadership aims to raise $5,000 for the Weekend Backpack program.
Part of the class’ fundraising efforts includes selling the “txting kills” thumb ring for $1. To purchase one, contact the college at 252-3467.
To watch “The Last Text,” visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DebhWD6ljZs.
Sun reporter Katie Ryan-Anderson can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by e-mail at kryan-anderson@jamestownsun.com
Tags: community, news, school, driving, texting, jhs, education
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