Around 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, May 9th, two cars were traveling opposite ways on highway 377, a two-lane road. In one car was Emma and 12-year-old Tita Shaffer, and in the other was Ashli and four-year-old Lorelei Morgan. The two mother-daughter pairs crossed paths in the most unfortunate way when their vehicles crashed into each other, head on. Instantly, Tita Shaffer and Ashli Morgan passed away on the scene, while Emma Shaffer and Lorelei Morgan died later while being treated. Upon further investigation, the police reported that cell phones may have been a factor in this tragic accident.
While I personally did not know any of these four lovely women, it is hard to not be impacted by this story. Tita was on a local Champion cheer team in Fort Worth, Texas. Tita had a passion for cheerleading and loving life. Evidence of this is obviously found by anyone who knew her. Friends and family poured stories in about the love Tita poured out onto them on "#TitaStrong." Her mother endlessly supported her, along with her two other sons Jimmy and Sergio. On the other end, there is the mother-daughter pair Ashli and Lorelei Morgan. Local friends and family poured in their comments about the love Ashli selflessly gave to everyone around her. Her sweet daughter, Lorelei, was described as "beautiful, perfect, smart and sassy."
Anyone who reads this story can admit to the heartbreak you feel for everyone involved. These four ladies were victim to cell phone distraction. Because of a mistake we all have done at one point, it ended four lives that were all too young. Everyone, myself included, has fallen into the temptation to send a quick text whenever on the road. We all believe that we won't be that statistic, or that we are talented enough to multitask. The sad truth is that accidents do not care about your age, where you were going, in how much of hurry you were in, or how much you have texted while driving without error before. This accident could have fully been 100 percent preventable if the decision was made to put the phone down and focus on driving.
Because of this simple mistake, two husbands will wake up without a wife or daughter. Two boys will live life without their sister or mother in their lives. Ultimately, two children will never be able to experience the roller coaster that is adulthood. These sweet children will never be able to experience graduation, wedding days, or having children of their own. The mothers of this accident will live with their daughters in heaven, while leaving behind those they love so dearly on earth.
I believe if the victims were still alive today, they would be the first advocates to teach against phone use while behind the wheel. Texting and driving fatalities are just a statistic until you are affected by it. The next time you reach for your phone while behind the wheel; think about the dire consequences that could follow this decision. The story of Tita, Emma, Ashli, and Lorelei has touched thousands already and will hopefully continue to do so in the future.
