7am News, Sports and Obits

Latest WGIL news
Click to play or
Right click and "Save Target As" to download
Click for Galesburg, Illinois Forecast
Home - Cancellations - Community Events - Contact Us - Mornings - News - Obituaries - Pictures - Programs - Special Events Audio - Sports - Weather
Teens Encourage To Drive Now, Text Later
Students at a local high school where at least one of their classmates has died as the result of a car accident are again being reminded about something they shouldn't do behind the wheel that is causing more and more crashes.

The Illinois State Police went to Knoxville High School Thursday, talking with sophomores about the dangers of texting while driving. Troopers say nearly a fourth of all crashes statewide involve driver inattention -- many times, sending a text message.

KHS Sophomore Paige Williams says while the student's death -- 15-year old Brandon Melton -- had nothing to do with texting, she still doesn't want history to repeat itself.


"It's really tragic so it's really important to be pay attention and listen, and actually be aware of what can happen," Williams said.

Fellow sophomore Kelly Lenz says while Melton's death was due to drunk driving, there is a parallel that can be drawn.


"One of our friends was killed because people weren't paying attention," Lenz said.

State Police cite a study that indicates text messaging increases the risk of a car crash by 23-times.

Police urged the students to simply make the right decisions.
11 04 11 by Newsroom
News management powered by Xpression News

Click here for the WGIL News Archive

Click here for national news

The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.