Chandler Renee Small, 19, a student at Texas A&M University, lost her life in a catastrophic rollover wreck around 3 a.m. on Wednesday morning on Texas 30. She was reportedly texting while driving a 2010 Ford F-250 pickup truck at a high rate of speed. Distracted from the road, she veered off of Texas 30 and the Ford F-250 pickup rolled over several times. Chandler Renee Small was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the tragic rollover wreck northeast of Grimes County Road 228.
Ms. Small died at the scene of the catastrophic rollover wreck. (Source: Dale Lezon, Houston Chronicle, 12/20/12) This teen student’s potential and promise will now never be realized, and a group of family and friends is now mourning when others are celebrating the holiday season.
Contact the Houston Personal Injury Lawyers at Denena Points, PC to report Injuries from a Distracted Driving Crash
At Denena Points, PC, we make an ongoing effort to help state and local authorities improve traffic safety for everyone. As part of that effort, we ask that you contact us to report serious accidents and injuries linked to distracted driving. We can be reached at 281-369-4363 or through our online contact form. Thank you.
Fatal Folly: Fingers Fumbling with Phones when They should be on the Wheel
Ms. Small’s needless, tragic death is just one more example of the fatal toll that texting while driving takes on teen lives. The U.S. NHTSA says that in 2008, 34,017 fatal vehicle crashes occurred accounting for a total of 37,261 deaths. Distracted driving, including texting while driving, caused 5,870 deaths: that is approximately 1 out of every 6 fatalities. Our Houston personal injury lawyers point out that drivers under the age of 20 years died in these distracted driving accidents more often than older drivers.
More recently in 2010, data indicates that 3,092 people died in distracted driving accidents. 416,000 people were injured in these crashes. The Houston personal injury lawyers at Denena Points, PC note that fully 18% of those motor vehicle accident injuries in 2010 were linked to distracted driving.
Some Important Research Facts about Distracted Driving
Don’t let Your Teen’s Last Words be a Text Message
Don’t let a unique, precious life be lost over a text message; educate your teens about distracted driving risks. Our Houston personal injury lawyers caution that messaging can always wait until a driver is not behind the wheel.
Drive safely. Pay attention to the road. Don’t text while driving. Avoid distractions that take your attention away from the complex task of driving. And if temporary distraction can’t be avoided, reduce your speed. The life you save could be your own.