Local mom speaks out about dangers of distracted driving

UPDATE 4/18/2017 5:35 PM:

A Central Coast mother is taking matters into her own hands, trying to raise awareness about distracted driving. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, but for June Stein, today means much more.

Her daughter, Sara Rae Johnson would’ve turned 40 on Wednesday, but her life was cut short by a distracted driver. On July 11, 2012, Sara, who worked at United Cerebral Palsy, and a bus full of adults with special needs were returning to Davis after a day out.

“A 52 year old man chose to get on Road 102 in Davis and started texting and he hit the bus head on,” Stein said. “All the clients had to be airlifted out, and the bus driver had to be airlifted out and Sara died at the scene and two days later, one of her clients also died from her injuries.”

Instead of letting grief consume her, this determined Monterey woman is continuing her daughter’s mission of helping others. Stein has spoken out at public event, organized blood drives, encourages random acts of kindness, and writes messages on paper money.

“My intent when I started to do that was that people would Google “UCP bus crash” and then read the story and I was hoping by them doing so, that it would make them stop and think,” Stein said.

According to the National Safety Council, at least 1.6 million crashes are caused every year by drivers using their cell phones and texting. It’s something Marina police officers see every day.

“Their head is down at their phone for up to five seconds at a time,” Sgt. Eddie Anderson said. “That’s insane.”

It’s something Stein wants to slam the brakes on altogether, so no other family knows her grief.

“Turn your phone off,” Stein said. “There is no text, there is no phone call, there is no bite of food, there is no song, and there is nothing that’s worth somebody’s life.”

The fine for getting caught varies whether it’s a driver’s first or second offense, but authorities say, they aren’t looking to hand out tickets, rather to teach them about the dangers.

ORIGINAL POST:

Mariana Hicks explores the real impact of distracted driving when she speaks to a Monterey mother at 5 p.m. on the news tonight. Join us as we explore the human story behind this Distracted Driving awareness month.

Monterey mother June Stein who lost her daughter, Sara Johnson, in a crash five years ago, personally knows how texting and driving can negatively affect someone. Her daughter was in a bus that was hit by a driver who was not only texting, but under the influence.

Since then, she has made it her mission to educate other families.

According to researchers at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, someone texting and driving is six times more likely to get into a crash than someone driving under the influence.

We’ll hear her story coming up tonight on KION News Channel 5/46.