Distracted Driving / Heather Lerch (full-length version) / Driving while Texting

*(Full-length version)
Dan and Wendy Lerch say they're now convinced that their 19-year-old daughter, Heather, was texting when her car left the road at 60 miles per hour and struck a guardrail. Heather was driving home from work that night and she'd driven that stretch of road hundreds of times over recent years.
For the first time, Heather's parents are speaking-out about the dangers of "distracted driving." It is their hope that this video will prevent someone from texting and driving, reaching for an iPod some other device while driving. Ultimately, they hope that their message will spare another family from the suffering that they now know.

Discover more DOL videos at the DOL's YouTube channel, http://youtube.com/walicensing

Category:

Education

Tags:

• distracted driving
• Heather Lerch
• Tumwater
• texting
• texting while driving
• fatal
• crash
• DOL
• Olympia
• Thurston County
• cell phone
• pictures
• educational

[00125466]

I did not know Heather personaly, but my sister did, this accident made her extremely sad. just seeing this video makes me tear up, you came to my school and talked, and just thinking about walking the same halls she walked makes me sad, because it could have been anybody. I text and drive all the time. I will no longer text and drive. This is going to save lives.

[WALicensing]

@00125466 Thank you for sharing your thoughts about Heather, the school, the video and this important issue.  Heather's story is so unfortunate, but reading your last two sentences gives continued hope that her life can still make an important contribution to the safety of others.

[ldsvett]

This is very sad. Heather is my cousin. Before her accident I would tell my boyfriend to stop texting cuz it is dangerous. This has effected our whole family. So please don't text learn from others mistakes. God Bless you all.

[WALicensing]

@ldsvett Thank you for sharing. I can't imagine...

[19Athens55]

So sad. A life cut too short. I lost a cousin to murder this past May but Heather sadly made a mistake that cost her life. I personally see more adults than teens texting and talking on the phone.

[jackshilack]

Tell the world you've had enough of distracted drivers on our facebook page... "itsUrcall"

[ssehram]

Can U feel how mothers & fathers in Iraq, Palestine, Bosnia, AfganoPakistan feel when their beloved child is dead bcaus COLLATERAL DAMAGE for War Industry of Israel/ USA/ UK/Canda, Austrlia, Rusia, China & India? Can U feel da PAIN for dem too? We hope so.. we believe all of USA/Israel are not evil like Dick Cheney & HighWay/Car industry who care only for PROFITS & not HUMANITY.

Want 2 hold a BIG sign--> NO WAR, NO Weapons Manufacturing- PEACE

Heaven 4 Heather. U too good 4 Evil Earth.

[nws17skater]

i've known heather since elementary school and it's still hard to believe.

[Carissaboo2010]

I rode in that car 2 days before:[ rip heather

[NorthOlympia]

Dan and Wendy, thank you so much for being so honest with everyone and sharing Heather's story.