Texting and Driving

It was 10:06 a.m. The birds were singing. It was sunny. Almost unbearably hot. My wife and I were out for a morning stroll.

We were keeping to the side of the road, chatting, laughing, working up a moderate sweat. My wife walks a lot faster than me. She was telling a story. She was talking with her hands. My wife always talks with her hands.

I was cackling. We were having a great time. There’s nothing like a morning walk.

Then.

A blue Ford SUV came flying up the road. We could see it in the distance. I could hear the 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine howling like a bat out of You Know Where. The vehicle was heading toward us.

I was thinking, “Surely this car will slow down. Surely the driver sees us.”

I guided my wife to the shoulder. Only, the car wasn’t merely passing. It was coming straight at us like a dive bomber. We might as well have had bullseyes drawn on our chests.

“Get out of the way!” I shouted to my wife. It was all I could think to do.

My wife froze before jolting into action and trying to get out of the way. She was nearly too late.

The Ford slammed its brakes and squealed. The grille of the SUV stopped only inches from my wife.

The birds were still singing.

The Ford sat idling. I could see the lady driver behind the windshield. The woman still didn’t realize anything was wrong. She was too busy reading a text message.

The driver was a young, professional-looking woman, mid-thirties, blonde hair, nice earrings. She didn’t even make eye contact with us, she never even put the phone down. She gunned her engine and sped away kicking up a rooster tail of grit behind her.

I immediately became sick. I doubled over and almost vomited. My wife was white as milk toast.

The worst part was that I had watched the whole thing go down. It had been like a strange hypnotic vision. I don’t know how tragedies can happen so fast and still feel like slow motion.

We stayed put, breathing heavily. My wife still couldn’t form words. Neither could I. The birds were giving an encore.

And I kept thinking about how if the lady driver would have hesitated tapping her brakes by one millisecond my wife would have died. Her body would have been flung into a ditch. She would have been surrounded by ambulances, paramedics, sheriff’s department vehicles, and spectators.

I would have had to stand by and watch her Raggedy-Anne-doll remains get loaded into an emergency vehicle while an officer asked me for a statement.

I can hardly even write about it.

I placed my face into my hands. My legs had turned to Jello, and my stomach was shot. We sat on the curb for awhile in silence, just breathing, holding each other, and listening to the sweet songs of mockingbirds.

“Are you alright?” I finally asked my wife.

“Yeah.” But her voice was hollow. Her cheeks were getting some color back.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nodded. “What just happened? I’m not even sure what happened.”

“A miracle happened.”

“Yeah.”

We stood. We brushed ourselves off. We embraced. We walked home together in the blazing heat, and neither of us felt much like conversation.

“I’m really shaken up,” she said.

“Me, too.”

“That lady almost…”

“I know.”

I still can’t get over how lucky we are. In fact, I feel like the luckiest man alive right now. My wife and I are breathing. We can both use our arms, legs, necks, eyes, ears, brains, and I still have a devastating overbite.

But in other towns, on other roadways, on other mornings, other people might not be so lucky.

On a typical weekday in the United States, 700 people are injured in distracted driving crashes. There are 1.6 million crashes each year caused by drivers screwing around with their phones.

I won’t give you too many statistics because you probably don’t care about numbers. But I will simply say that at any given moment in America, 660,000 drivers are using electronic devices while on highways.

Basically, what this means is that each year heaps of normal people are killed by other normal people who are texting and driving.

It happens like this: A carefree, nice-looking, moderately successful, average guy is driving fifty-five miles per hour on a beautiful Saturday. When all of a sudden his phone will ding.

His buddy will text, or his girlfriend will send a private message, or he’ll get an email, or his cousin will text a comical picture of a hamster eating pizza, or whatever.

He will take his eyes off the road to pick up his phone. He will hear a loud crash. And that will be it.

In the time it took you to read that last paragraph, that exact event just occurred more than a few times.

When we got home my wife sat on our porch for several minutes, watching the woods, kind of numb. I sat with her. She was still in shock. She leaned her head onto my shoulder and we couldn’t find any sentences for a long time.

Finally, she smiled and walked inside to take a nap.

Then, and only then, did I let myself cry so hard that my ears clogged up. Because today a blue SUV on an average road, in an ordinary town, almost took my wife from me.

And it was all because of a text message.

78 comments

  1. Becky Souders - July 19, 2020 7:13 am

    Angry. Sad. Thankful. Your writing continues to inspire, Sean Dietrich. One of these days I’m going to write you a long letter.

    Reply
  2. Jeanne Butler - July 19, 2020 8:12 am

    OMG. So awful. People have lost their minds. I’m so glad your wife and you are ok. God blessed you both. Love and hugs

    Reply
  3. Susan Parker - July 19, 2020 9:28 am

    Hugging you both from over here. So thankful you are both safe. I nearly always share your columns. I am definitely sharing today.

    Reply
  4. Sherry Ederheimer - July 19, 2020 9:30 am

    So grateful you are safe. You re-created the scene so that I felt shocked.

    Reply
  5. Susan Smith - July 19, 2020 10:30 am

    You guardian angels were working hard that day

    Reply
  6. Estelle - July 19, 2020 10:55 am

    The safest thing to do is to throw your phone in the back seat before you start the car. But if you have the will power, if you must use the phone pull over on the side of the road. It only takes 12 seconds of inattention to maim or kill someone. Would you want to be that person who killed a 4 year old child? How about the couple on the side of the road? What about the disabled or elderly person who is trying to cross the street and cannot move fast? Do you want to be that person in your neighborhood who is a killer. ☠️

    Reply
  7. Nancy Miller - July 19, 2020 10:56 am

    I am so very sorry that happened. I wish we didn’t have cell phones. They are time wasters, addictive and dangerous in the hands of drivers. We all were fine with our home phones.

    Reply
  8. Jackie Simm - July 19, 2020 10:58 am

    Thankful Thankful Thankful! God bless you both!

    Reply
  9. Barbara - July 19, 2020 11:05 am

    What a horrifying event! I’m so sorry that it happened and am outraged at the negligence of the driver who got away without so much as a wake up call. I’m thankful for the outcome – for both of you. My Dad used to say “blessed, not lucky”. Guardian angel was on the scene! No other explanation of why that vehicle stopped within inches. I had a close encounter when I was 5. Not the drivers fault, as I darted across the street. 2 inches between me and eternity. Today is a day to give thanks.

    Reply
  10. Brenda - July 19, 2020 11:31 am

    This gave me chills! I drive a lot and most days someone crosses the center line, headed straight for my vehicle, with a phone in their hand. Put the phone down, people, it’s not that important! I’m glad you’re both okay.

    Reply
  11. Tammy S. - July 19, 2020 11:32 am

    Jamie, I am SO thankful you are safe. I met you once, for a brief moment, but long enough to know that this world is a better place because you are here. You bring sunshine to the world of a man who brings sunshine, and the occasional tear, to our worlds. And so much more!!! There are not too many words at a time like this but “thank you, God” comes to mind.

    It is the same with drinking and driving. And it is DEVASTATING to a family. My beloved Aunt Louise was taken from us all on May 18, 1986. It was exactly one week after my birthday and one day before my HS graduation. It was a clear Sunday afternoon. She had gone home to shampoo her hair and fix it for my graduation the next day. She was headed to pick-up her Momma, my Mamaw, and her son Roger, my cousin. He had opted to stay with Mamaw while she ran to wash and fix her hair. He was a junior in HS. So many times since that day I have thought “why could it not have been just another Sunday? No graduation the next day!” But it was, and she did, and a guy somewhere in a bar decided to get in his car and he took off about the time she left her house to go pick-up her Momma and her son to go to Sunday night church. She never made it, but the ambulances and fire trucks made their way to her. And after 30 years, that Sunday night, at that small country church, the piano sat silent. She had been the piano player for our home church since she was 15. 45 was too young to lose her!! We all still grieve this woman who was the kind of woman everyone loved, and she lit up a room like no one else. So many lost so much that day and we all cannot wait to see her again one day. BUT, It was too soon.

    So very thankful, SO very thankful you both got to go to bed this night, hold each other a little tighter and knowing just how blessed we all are to have another day!! Because tomorrow is not promised.

    Please don’t drink and drive! And for goodness sake do the easiest thing in the world and put the damn phones down!!!!

    We are thankful for you, and love you, Jamie!!!!
    Big hugs to you both!!!!

    Reply
  12. Don Webb - July 19, 2020 11:51 am

    So thankful your both ok! Thank you Lord! 🙏

    Reply
  13. Jean - July 19, 2020 11:56 am

    I am glad you are both ok! This happens more and more and there are supposed to be laws against this…but until they cause a terrible accident nobody will do anything.

    Reply
  14. Rhonda - July 19, 2020 11:57 am

    I am going to say a prayer of thanks for Jaimie’s miracle. And I am going to pray for me. I tell you why. Because fear brings out things in you. The last time I saw someone almost carelessly take a life, the rage of a thousand Mama’s came over me. Before I knew I was backing somebody elses child around and around a car explaining in a voice from other than heavenly just exactly what I was fixing to do and how and why I was going to do it. I knew it would be like one of those dreams where you can’t hit someone hard enough to satisfy yourself. But I was going to bring my lunch in case it took a while for me to work out my anger.
    Long gone are the days of holding a tongue. The Lord whispered in my ear…pssssst, Get Em’. I spent years after I was saved trying to control my overly opinionated self. Finally he said, I gave you that mouth for a reason. Oh, Ok! If you act like a horses behind in front of me you can fully expect your PO’d Mama to suddenly appear right before your eyes. If you got the tag number I will be more than glad to take care of this for you. She NEEDS IT!
    And I truly am grateful. My heart could not have handled a different ending.
    We love you both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  15. Sue Rhodus - July 19, 2020 12:00 pm

    You know those angels you write about…well.
    ..there they are !!!!! God Bless !

    Reply
  16. Debbie - July 19, 2020 12:12 pm

    Thank you for writing this difficult story, Sean. It’s one that needs to be heard again and again. What a shame, but it does. You and your sweet wife are in my prayers as I thank God for His amazing grace and for your angels that were watching over you both that day.

    Reply
  17. Betty F. - July 19, 2020 12:16 pm

    So very sorry this happened. So very grateful for you and Jamie and us that angels/fate/karma/luck stepped in. So very angry that she did not have the human decency to even look ashamed, no less act ashamed. So sorry you did not even get a partial plate number so we could all all find and shame her, then run over her phone. Just wish she was a reader so she might learn a lesson.

    Reply
  18. Ann - July 19, 2020 12:22 pm

    Thanks be to God you are both alright 🙏🏻
    It takes only a “ blink” to change our world and unfortunately waaaaay too many drivers ( young and old) think they can “ handle it”….. even hands free talking…the concentration is divided!
    Hopefully this column will get a few people to pay attention while they drive…..in the meantime, hear the birds singing and keep walking…together!

    Reply
  19. Connie - July 19, 2020 12:25 pm

    Oh my heart. Thank God you are both okay. I know you were terrified. I drive 50 miles or so round trip to work and a day rarely goes by that I don’t see at least one driver weaving all over the road with their phone in their hands. I’m totally outraged that the person who did this to y’all didn’t even acknowledge what happened. People can be so awful. Love and hugs.

    Reply
  20. flacbe - July 19, 2020 12:32 pm

    So thankful your story had a Happy Ending.

    Reply
  21. cronkitesue - July 19, 2020 12:40 pm

    Wish there was something that could be done about it.

    Reply
  22. Tracy Zeigler - July 19, 2020 12:45 pm

    Oh my goodness I am so so sorry what you and your wife experienced. I so wish that someone would invent something that once you started your vehicle your phone would no longer be able to receive calls, text, emails etc. I’ve heard so many times from people I know that I got this I can still see what’s going on, NO NO YOU DON’T AND YOU CAN’T!!!

    The good Lord above was definitely watching over you and your wife!!!

    Reply
  23. Nancy - July 19, 2020 1:07 pm

    Thanking God that up you and Jamie are safe. Going to post this on FB! Even if one person reads and it makes them think twice about using their phone while driving it could save a life. Love you two!

    Reply
  24. Jan - July 19, 2020 1:07 pm

    I am so sorry for the horror you and your wife experienced. I am thankful that you both escaped unharmed even though you were traumatized I am sure. I do wish that your story this morning would be required reading by everyone to takes the test for a driver’s license, purchases a vehicle or renews a tag. Someway, somehow, these kind of experiences need to be communicated to everyone who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle to drive a potentially lethal weapon!

    Reply
  25. jonsportraits.com - July 19, 2020 1:28 pm

    That was hard to read, but I am so glad you are both ok.

    Reply
  26. Robert M Brenner - July 19, 2020 1:32 pm

    Every single person that owns a mobile phone needs to read this. Today your words said it all Sean. I’m very happy that you two were okay!

    Reply
  27. Don Helton - July 19, 2020 1:32 pm

    You were NOT lucky. This was a “divine intervention.” The source of these isn’t luck, and you know it.

    Reply
  28. Teresa Tindle - July 19, 2020 1:34 pm

    Sometimes I wish they had never been invented. I’m glad I wasn’t born during this time of cell phones and texting. You miss too much.

    Reply
  29. Phil S. - July 19, 2020 2:04 pm

    Great lesson, Sean. SOOO glad Jamie is OK, and you, too. Sad to say that I am among the guilty. I’m not dumb enough to text or read texts, e-mails, etc., but I sometimes answer a phone call. No more! If I have to return a call I will pull off the road in a safe place. Don’t drive distracted!!!

    Reply
  30. Bobbie - July 19, 2020 2:12 pm

    Something neither of you will ever forget…and a reminder to love more, be kinder, be aware and be thankful for each day God gives us.
    God bless you. ❤️

    Reply
  31. Anne Arthur - July 19, 2020 2:15 pm

    Thanking GOD that he miraculously saved you both from such a tragedy. Words fail to describe how indifferent some people act when nearly killing another human being.

    Reply
  32. Walter McKenzie - July 19, 2020 2:50 pm

    I hope she reads this, that “Young professional woman”, and recognizes herself, and feels stupid (because she is) and guilty (because she is) and remorseful (because she should be!). I’m glad you and your wife are OK and I hope you don’t do any more of this kind of research for writing your column!

    Reply
  33. Curtis Lee Zeitelhack - July 19, 2020 2:54 pm

    Everyone needs to put the phone down and drive. I am sorry that this happened to you and your wife. I am glad you both survived that woman’s selfishness.

    Reply
  34. Walter McKenzie - July 19, 2020 2:57 pm

    Get’em Rhonda! We need more mad moms!

    Reply
  35. Sha'nah Martin - July 19, 2020 3:46 pm

    Thank you for saying what needs to be said about texting and driving. Many lives have been taken, maimed or hurt because someone would not take the time to stop and read the message. I watch different people try to maneuver the phone and the car with fear. So scary.

    Reply
  36. Tricia Himel Bower - July 19, 2020 3:50 pm

    This happened to my husband and I while walking in our neighborhood. I froze. He threw me into the grass on the side of the road. The person driving never saw me. Or him. If he hadn’t flung me out of the way….

    Reply
  37. Brenda - July 19, 2020 3:50 pm

    This also makes me ill and increases that feeling of helpless. A hands free law just went into effect on July 1 here in Indiana. Three days ago while traveling I-70, we passed 2 cars, drivers with phones in their face traveling at 70 mph within 10 minutes of each other. I stopped looking after that. How many lives must be taken before people get it??? How many lives must be taken before people obey the law? Thanking God for your miracle.

    Reply
  38. Jerri Whitlow - July 19, 2020 3:54 pm

    Terrifying! Thanks be to God that you are both ok

    Reply
  39. Char Stidd - July 19, 2020 3:55 pm

    The lump in my throat grew so big, as I read, that I could not share this with my husband for a few minutes. I am thanking God that you are both okay.
    I doubt that driver has learned a lesson since she did not even say a word to you – which makes me wonder if she is on her way to hurting/killing someone else. We don’t know who she is but God does…she needs our prayers to stop her dangerous ways…she and everyone like her that puts so much importance on their phone while they are driving.
    Praising the Lord that you are both okay. Char

    Reply
  40. Cathi Russell - July 19, 2020 3:58 pm

    Thank the good Lord He intervened & the worst did not happen. And thank goodness I didn’t read this at 5:30am or I would have been a blubbering mess starting my day! You & Jamie stay safe out there, please. Two MVPs don’t need to leave us in this way!

    Reply
  41. Peggy Thompson - July 19, 2020 4:32 pm

    So thankful you are both ok. So sad when life can’t wait until you stop driving. I hope this lady will read this & have a wake up call! 😒😢

    Reply
  42. Linda Moon - July 19, 2020 4:33 pm

    You had me at the title with probably a slight rise in my blood pressure. I could hardly read most of what followed. How. How did we come to this. Those are rhetorical questions that must be answered. We’ve stopped seeing, and some of LIFE has turned darker. It turned on a dime for our family on Good Friday because of blindness….not seeing….literally, spiritually and perhaps selfishly, and two people were killed by that ‘blind’ driver. Tell Jamie that “Uma” is messaging with tears in my eyes. I’m so grateful she was not taken from you, Sean, and from us too.

    Reply
  43. Marge - July 19, 2020 5:01 pm

    Wear your mask, put your phone away, don’t drink and drive…love your neighbor as yourself ( or more)! Simple rules that are going to make a huge difference in our world! Thanks for sharing your terrifying/numbing moment! More importantly, thank God and your angels for saving Jaimie!

    Reply
  44. MJ Bennett - July 19, 2020 5:10 pm

    Her guardian angel was with her. I know because mine has saved me a few times especially in a car🙏

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  45. Linette Wright - July 19, 2020 5:24 pm

    I am so so very sorry this happened to the two of you! Thanking God for His miracle!

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  46. Diane H. Toney - July 19, 2020 5:25 pm

    Well said——and much needed. Thankful that it ended all right.

    Reply
  47. Christina - July 19, 2020 5:44 pm

    Oh thank God for protecting Jamie! Seems like a miracle that she was shielded from such careless and horrendous act! I’m feeling your shock, anger, sadness and I wish everyone (esp those who text and drive) could read this! I know you will hold her tighter today! Sending love to y’all.

    Reply
  48. Karen McDaniel - July 19, 2020 6:01 pm

    Thanks be to God for the angels watching over you both.

    Reply
  49. Meg Widmer - July 19, 2020 6:05 pm

    My husband is always ‘counseling’ me on this very possibility….someone, male or female, not PAYING ATTENTION and they are behind the wheel of a multi-ton vehicle barreling down the road. I have to admit, which is many times the case….we don’t hear the message many times until we hear it from a source that has experienced it; in this case, you and your wife. THANK YOU for making my husband’s words to me very real and possible in my head now. It IS scary that we have these machines that move us at 60-80 mph down the road, weaving in and out of traffic, etc.
    STOP, people….listen to Sean!!! He saw it, experienced it first hand and God was there. You or I might not be so lucky in the timing. Slow down, stay alert. Absolutely ANYTHING can wait for us for a few more minutes. NOTHING is that dire! AGAIN, Sean, thank you for a well written witness to what could have turned out tragic. …to any of us.

    Reply
  50. Steve Winfield [Lifer] - July 19, 2020 6:10 pm

    God bless you both in Christ’s name.

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  51. Janice - July 19, 2020 6:55 pm

    I hope you got her tag number. Police probably can’t do anything, but you can find out who owns the SUV and send them a copy of your posting.

    So glad y’all are ok!

    Reply
  52. catladymac - July 19, 2020 7:32 pm

    Obviously, God still has a lot of work left for you and your wide to do. And we thank Him for it.

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  53. MAM - July 19, 2020 8:23 pm

    God sent his angels to hit that brake just in time! Thank goodness you and your wife are safe. I agree with the comment just above that God still has a lot of work left for you and your wife to do. If you have a local newspaper, I would send your column to them and describe the SUV. Maybe the woman driving will read it and learn a lesson from it! And you go get ’em, Rhonda!

    Reply
  54. Sally Walpole - July 19, 2020 8:25 pm

    Please tell your state representatives to put forth a bill similar to what GA and TN passed 1-2 years ago. You cannot touch your cell phone while driving. Past GA Gov. Nathan Deal signed the bill and it has made a difference. I don’t see people texting and driving now. If driver gets caught, they are fined but their car insurance goes sky high! I am so glad you and your wife did not get hurt.

    Reply
  55. Howard Humphreys - July 19, 2020 8:46 pm

    One of the MOST important columns you will every write….

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  56. Larry Wall - July 19, 2020 9:39 pm

    Great suggestion, MAM. A real chance to reach the guilty individual. And others, in an impactful way.

    Reply
  57. Roger Ford - July 19, 2020 10:31 pm

    Terror occupies our lives in seconds, the fear of which takes up much more of our living time. Your story has quickened my own heartbeat. Thank God it was a miss. I discovered you 2 months ago and have been a faithful follower of your blogs and pod-casts, by the way do you see your way forward to do more pod-casts, and am reading your books, and danged if I haven’t in the meantime developed a visceral fondness for the music of Mississippi John Hurt. Creepy! One minor bone to pick, I’m from Texas so take that into account, but we males in my circle of life always needle our compadres who use “my wife” for our wedded partners in lieu of her name. I know your wife’s name and I know you cherish her. Just saying. Your words and music are a ministry in and of themselves. Thank you.

    Reply
  58. Susan Kennedy - July 19, 2020 11:54 pm

    So thankful that both of you are ok. God is good all the time. We humans….not so much.

    Reply
  59. Betty - July 20, 2020 1:02 am

    When we lived out in the country I looked out our front door & saw what I thought was a big white box flipping down the road & landing in the ditch next to our driveway. It turned out it was a car & we ran out. My husband called 911 & asked if anyone was injured. A woman got out of the car & I asked her but she just kept asking where her phone was. She kept running around the car looking for her phone. There was a man working on the air conditioner of our neighbor & he saw what happened & came running over & said there were children in the back seat. He climbed up & got the older one out, about 6 but couldn’t get the younger one out of his car seat. He asked my husband if he had a knife & he gave him his pocket knife. After he got the second child out & came over & gave my husband his knife back he commented on how sharp it was & that it really did the job. The funny thing is the a couple of days before that my husband had commented on how dull his knife was & he needed to sharpen it which he didn’t do so it had to be a miracle that it cut that seat belt. We could tell from tire tracks that she had come over a small hill on the wrong side of the road & a car was coming toward her & she jerked the wheel to hard. What I couldn’t understand is how she could run around the car looking for her phone & not even worried about her children! Even after he got the children out we were the ones to comfort them while she looked for her phone.

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  60. Betty - July 20, 2020 1:03 am

    P.S. So very glad you two are OK. There definitely was a guardian angle at work.

    Reply
  61. that is jack - July 20, 2020 1:37 am

    Amazingly stupid. The thought, ‘This will only take a second, no problem.’ And someone dies. usually the driver. This time it could have been worse, because the innocent could have left the scene.
    Glad all is well, I wish the dirver learned something, buty probably not.
    Stay safe.

    Reply
  62. Allen PhDude - July 20, 2020 1:37 am

    Oh, buddy… I’m so glad Jamie is all right. I don’t even have the words, save for a few to thank God for watching over my friends. For protecting her from that woman… You reacted better than I would have. I imagine there would have been a broken driver’s side window, a lot of yelling, and a phone flying deep into the woods, not under it’s own power.

    I hope people will read this and take better care. I hope they’ll stop and think about what they’re doing. I love you guys.

    Reply
  63. peggybilbro - July 20, 2020 3:32 am

    My heart has gone into overtime just reading this, and tears are near the surface. I can’t even imagine how you and Jamie feel. So so glad you are both alive. Stay that way. We need you!

    Reply
  64. Lisa Williams - July 20, 2020 4:15 am

    So thankful tooo!!!! I’ve been in very similar scenarios and been fortunate too. Many are not. Keep writing. It is keeping me sane during COVID. It’s the one time I feel like we are all still people, real people.

    Reply
  65. Nancy M - July 20, 2020 4:57 am

    Oh my goodness!! So scary!!! Thankful that Jamie and you are still here! Praying for you both.

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  66. Gordon - July 20, 2020 6:54 am

    So glad you both escaped. Hope the b*tch in question reads tis column

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  67. Gordon - July 20, 2020 6:55 am

    Please excuse the typo: this rather than tis

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  68. H J Patterson - July 20, 2020 8:53 pm

    I’d of opened the driver door, snatched her phone from her and smashed it on the pavement. Then I’d of gathered some of the remains and tossed them in her face and told her that if she does this again, this is what I’ll do to you. Then smiled at her and tell to have a great day, you idiot.

    Reply
  69. Ann Marie Bouchet - July 21, 2020 4:25 am

    I have great admiration for your restraint in not dragging this person out of the car and cussing her out…she deserved to be as scared and shook up as Jamie….so, so grateful you are both OK……I hope she does read your column……maybe it will make her think.

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  70. Annie Walsh - July 21, 2020 4:59 pm

    For the grace of God neither of you got hurt. I hope your words and your fear touches the hearts of everyone who reads this. And they retell this or send this and thousands of people read it and hear it. By doing so thousands of people don’t have to die. Thank you so much for your words. A peace be with you.

    Reply
  71. Karen Page - July 21, 2020 9:59 pm

    Very powerful. Brought tears to my eyes.

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  72. lanierh2 - July 22, 2020 12:23 am

    I bet the blue SUV travels that route regularly. Maybe you can get her tag number the next time. At least report the incident so that her vehicle/tag is in the system. Do you believe this was her first time to text & drive?

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  73. John Pritchett - July 22, 2020 1:25 pm

    DAMN!

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  74. Sandi. - July 23, 2020 2:58 pm

    Sean, thank God Jamie is all right following what could’ve been a very tragic incident, all because of a distracted driver focused on her cell phone instead of the road ahead. Breathing a sigh of relief here that you and Jamie are both okay..

    Reply
  75. Alice - August 23, 2020 7:19 pm

    So glad you both are safe!yes just taking your eyes off the road for a second can be deadly!i wish people would not look at their phone when driving but I know they will keep doing it!God bless you and your wife ❤️🙏

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  76. Donna Howell McPherson - August 23, 2020 9:19 pm

    Came that close to being hit by a pastor in the church parking lot once. I felt that maybe he was taking that whole scaring me straight thing a little too far. On a serious note, I’m glad you’re both safe.

    Reply
  77. Steve (lifer) - August 24, 2020 1:20 am

    I’m sharing this now. I hope you share it many times in the future because people need to think & put that phone down. It can wait. If not, pull over.
    So very glad you’re both OK!
    I love you both!
    Steve

    Reply
  78. Mary Hicks - August 24, 2020 2:56 am

    So very thankful you are both okay!! If my phone rings or dings, it can wait until I can either pull off the road or get where I’m going! NOTHING is that important!! God bless you and Jamie.

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