PALMDALE, Calif. -- The Grim Reaper came to Palmdale High School as seniors gathered in their gym Friday to not only hear, but see the consequences of texting and driving.
The event was put on by students in partnership with local law enforcement and the Jacob Hefter foundation, which was started in 2008 by Jacob Hefter’s parents after a Metrolink crash, where the engineer was texting, killed the college freshman.
“It’s the hardest thing as a parent, to have someone tell you that your child is dead,” said Angela Hefter.
Hefter shared her story Friday, which was the second day of the Last Text event, in hopes of showing students how distracted driving can impact lives. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, it causes over 3000 deaths nationwide every year
“It’s just a huge problem to have. What we want to do is just create that awareness and tell them that if they just put that phone down for a second, it could possibly save their life or keep them from going to jail,” said CHP Officer, Gil Hernandez.
That awareness is starting with teenagers, who according to the CDC, have higher crash rates that drivers of any other age.
“I’m going to tell people when I see them texting and driving that is the text really important? Are you really going to sacrifice your life and others, just for one text?” said Palmdale High School senior, Jasmine Singh.
The Hefter Foundation continues to speak to prevent accidents like the one that took their son, who was also a Palmdale High School graduate.