Chance Bothe had some prophetic words just before his truck plummeted off a cliff, nearly killing him: “I need to quit texting, because I could die in a car accident.”
The 21-year-old sent the text just before his truck veered off the road, crashing through a Texas bridge and into a ravine, The Huffington Post reported. Chance Bothe somehow survived the incident, though he suffered brain injuries and broke nearly every bone in his body, including his skull and neck. He also had to be brought back from the brink of death three times, WBTV reported.
After a six-month stay in the hospital, during which he faced a number of surgeries to reconstruct his broken body and a rehabilitation regimen that included learning how to speak again, Chance Bothe was released from the hospital this week.
Chance Bothe is now speaking publicly for the first time, warning others about the dangers of texting while driving.
“Don’t do it. It’s not worth losing your life,” Bothe told the New York Daily News. “I went to my grandmother’s funeral not long ago, and I kept thinking, it kept jumping into my head, I’m surprised that’s not me up in that casket. I came very close to that, to being gone forever.”
Bothe’s family has joined the crusade as well.
“If I had a kid 16 years old starting to drive, they could have a phone but the texting feature wouldn’t be on it,” Bothe’s father told KHOU.
Chance Bothe’s texting while driving accident casts an even bigger spotlight on the issue of distracted driving. Though officials say it is hard to put an exact figure to it, the number of crashes caused by texting or other high-tech distractions has increased dramatically.
“Unfortunately we’re seeing more and more patients here that had their brain injuries as a result of texting and driving. And unfortunately I don’t think we’re going to see a decrease in that anytime soon,” Jacob Joseph, Chance Bothe’s doctor with the Specialty Rehabilitation Program at TIRR Memorial, told ABC13.
Another texting while driving story to be filed away with the other ignored stories…
another douche driving and texting, why don't you just drive with your eyes closed!
another douche driving and texting, why don't you just drive with your eyes closed!
It is NOT just kids and young adults texting… I have seen MANY – OVER the age of 30 texting and using their phone while driving… Phone use needs to be banned 100% while driving in ALL states! If you do this then YOU are a complete moron!
I THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MORE BILLBOARDS REGARDING THIS……I SEE ADULTS TEXTING WHILE IN MOTION AND NOT AT A REDLIGHT AND THEY ARE NOT SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE YOUTH OF TODAY….GROW UP PEOPLE.
Just a minute…i have a text…lol.
Our society is distracted by mobile devices, mobile apps and social media…in school, in business and in our personal lives. They are a threat to our relationships and well being.
Darwin Award nominee.
Darwin Award nominee.
Texting while driving? Are the doc's sure the brain injuries were not there BEFORE the accident?
Why does everyone want to be an advocate when it happens to them. Do you really think this dumb ass would be advocating if he didn't wreck and get caught texting uhh my guess is no. Do they not have signs or newspaper or television in Texas. He knows texting and driving can kill you. He's probably heard it a thousand times over. Now he wants to advocate something that's been drilled in his head over and over again. Tough luck for him he will have to live with his own stupidity. And this goes out to everyone that textswhile driving.
woulda been a better story if he died
It's mighty presumptuous to assume that someone who would do this is a "complete moron". Reckless, maybe. But a complete moron? We're all guilty of doing this at one time or another.
Dumb ass
there is a time and place for everything. Like any tool, misuse can have terrible consequences. This is such a tragedy and so unnecessary.
A lot of kids these days, particularly those of a certain gender, are quite literally addicted to texting. They'll do it before they get out of bed in the morning, when brushing their teeth or taking a shower, driving to school or work, and walking in the parking lot to where they're going meet the people they were just messaging. People (of all ages) should be charged with driving while intoxicated for texting and driving, for they are truly intoxicated with their digital conversation and paying MUCH less attention to the road and their environment than all but the drunkest of drivers.
oh my god. you people are insane! Why on EARTH would you post something like this?! I'm 13 and I have more respect than ANY of you people would EVER have.
I wish It was you in the story , maybe you'd gain some respect then. (I know chance.)
Agreed… Alabamas No Texting Law went into effect Weds… The fines just aren't enough to to stop most… First offense is $25…
you have no respect. maybe if you were in his situation, you'd gain some. I'm 13 And I obviously have way more respect than you will ever have. (Chance is one of my friends.)
this is completely rude in every way. it's not like he's the only one who's ever done this. I know for sure you've checked your phone/texted at least once in your life. I'm 13 and I have way more respect than you will ever have. (I know Chance.)
Paul Yuri Gooding: It's mighty presumptuous to assume that "We're all guilty of doing this at one time or another."
We get it, you know him. Darling what he did was plain out stupid. You can't deny it. Sadly he is dang lucky that the only person he hurt was himself! I had a friend die because someone was doing something they shouldn't have while driving and ran head on into him. These people on here have respect and I am sure you really mean "perspective." Hearing about how someone did something so obviously idiotic angers us because we know that it so easily could have been someone else hurt by his selfish stupid choices. Yes, we've all done dumb things but what sets others apart from this is that they don't purposely keep doing it. His text says it all. He knew what he was doing was dangerous but he kept doing it anyway. THAT is what is stupid about it!
Haha, touche. However, I didn't needlessly call anyone a complete moron in order to make my statement. I am merely suggesting that each of us have done something reckless in our lives, but those things don't make us stupid, they are just poor decisions.
Well said, Johann.
My friend was in a little town in Italy last month. No TV's, very few cell phone. She said it was heaven. I know they make things so much easier. When I was teaching, there was no way my kids could reach me if there was change in plans, etc.. Having a cell phone would have been such a help. But I certainly hear what you're saying. (miss you, Paul)
Use some common sense, if you have some.Some people can multi task, some can't.A person behind the wheel of a 2 ton metal object traveling at, any speed? should be aware of that particular action and that should be the number 1 priority of their attention. 'Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel' The Doors.
Look who needs to gain some respect.
Paul Yuri Gooding
No, I never talk on my phone or text ever when driving. You are definitely wrong here. I wish everyone would not do this. People either drive really slow and on a phone or drive recklesly and fast while on a phone. Please stop doing this. It can kill you or someone else too.
I am so sorry for your friend. I wish more people would not do this. I see it going on with all ages. Talking on cell phones and probably texting too. Please everyone refrain from doing this. It can hurt you or kill you. It can also hurt someone else. so please refrain from this practice. It is not safe driving.
Debbie Hearon I am reply ing to the posts by debbie Hearon , forced to be public thanks to FACEBOOKS STRONG ARM TACTICS THAT I HATE fb sucks in a big way. ok back to the subject, Debbie are you what you appere to be or are you pretending? I don't believe YOU believe that Paul was saying he always texts or that ANYONE always texts . Your intentions are thinly vieled {hidden} way to thin . but just in case your for real I will clue you in you need it badly, first of all read a post VERY well all the way through , from the first word all the way to the last word ok? And then if your absolutely sure you understand {you know what the person is saying} then you reply , {you can write something back to them} . I am only saying this because your reply to paul shows that you did not ujderstand {knew what he meant} {and did say} in his post {his writting} and with that i will leave like supergirl …having done a good deed for the less forunates in the world …up….up…and awayyyyyyyy.
Dave how cold bitter and ugly can one man be. MAYBE ONE OF HIS DEATHS gave him they idea he could do the world or even just if one person is saved he will be serving a good perpose {unlike you}. sometimes it takes something seroius to wake someone up and make them change …i wonder what will it take to wake you up. I KNOW why don't you try dying too!! great idea!
stphanie …YOU must be daves twin sister ..stfu ok??
Ally Lucas Hello dear , I am sorry your friend had to find out in such a tough way. It takes more for some than others. BUT thank goodness for everyone he survived and he is passing the message on . Please don't pay attention to the people writting ugly things , people tend to spew out all over the place what they are full of inside. they are obviously very unhappy people because happy people just dont have time to spew out such hatred for their fellow man. just ingnore them and realize that we need to keep on loving and showing that we do it is the only real way to keep these posters and all of their kind down . and they need to be kept down . its up to your genration to bring love back to the world . take care and keep love close to you.
PEACE
bonnie
stewie, where did you get your evil license ? you know the devil personaly or are you just in practice for when you go down to meet him . cuz you sure aint goin to a better place noit the way your acting . get a clue , have some empathy , you slime ball. I wonder what it will take to wake you up?? i know …try dying …ya thats it die , and maybe you will learn your lesson to have some compassion for your fellow man .
hobbiton777, The world would be a better place without you . thats for sure . and your horrible uglyness is not just touching people like you , it is touching children , and they know better than you . I wonder what happened to you to make you so sinister so ugly deep inside.?? did your parents beat you? rape you? for sure nothing less than severe emotional abuse , it may be to late for you so i will just say S T F U you horrible monster
Ally Lucas keep the faith ally girl!! don't let these monsters turn you into one of them .ok??
hehehe… see thats nice a little joke with no malice , you make be worth rescuing , the jury is still out ..lol
going to the roadhouse gunna have a realll good time …..i hear you Henry and i agree. nonetheless that doesnt mean anyone doesnt derserve some empathy if they do make a mistake , its tragic how this child had to learn but he learned and he is passing his message which is a good thing , thank for saying that and not cutting the boy down
Ally Lucas im not familar with this set up i think i might have pushed unlike when i meant like this im sorry
Christy Krumel Dennie you know what? I don't understand this but why do people like you have to comeback with remarks like how stupid it was? are you so lacking in brain power that you think that will help anyone? just in case im writting to you as one duma$$ to another so you can understand me….what possible good are you doing by pointing out to the world that this was dumb , at least he is learning from his mistakes unlike you, what will it take to,stop mean spirited people like yourself? IVE GOT AN idea …die ….thats it you die …and IF YOU come back maybe youll be a better person and pass along good instead of bad.
and if you dont come back ..weeee the world will be a better place with/out you and ALL THE POSTERS FULL OF HATE HERE JUST LIKE YOU AND WORSE.
and if you dont come back ..weeee the world will be a better place with/out you and ALL THE POSTERS FULL OF HATE HERE JUST LIKE YOU AND WORSE.
and if you dont come back ..weeee the world will be a better place with/out you and ALL THE POSTERS FULL OF HATE HERE JUST LIKE YOU AND WORSE.
THATS FOR YOU AND ALL YOUR BUDDIES DENNIE
THATS FOR YOU AND ALL YOUR BUDDIES DENNIE
THATS FOR YOU AND ALL YOUR BUDDIES DENNIE
s t f u …YOUR SUCH A LOSER , thats why you don't have any friends….and thats why your family doesnt like to be around you , your all alone in your world of hate , your such a waste of skin ….ok superbonnie has done her good deeds im off to the rest of the world now …up…..up and awayyyyy
its already illegal in 39 states.
I just wish they'd enforce laws like these with the same vigor as DUI and speeding, but from what I've seen officers tend not to care if someone is texting or cell phoning while driving, not using their turn signals, or tailgating.
Ally Lucas Hypocrite. Preaching about respect, but in the same sentence wishes unimaginable suffering upon another person. Grow up.
Debbie Hearon I am reply ing to the posts by debbie Hearon , Debbie are you what you appere to be or are you pretending? I don't believe YOU believe that Paul was saying he always texts or that ANYONE always texts . Your intentions are thinly vieled {hidden} way to thin . but just in case your for real I will clue you in you need it badly, first of all read a post VERY well all the way through , from the first word all the way to the last word ok? And then if your absolutely sure you understand {you know what the person is saying} then you reply , {you can write something back to them} . I am only saying this because your reply to paul shows that you did not ujderstand {knew what he meant} {and did say} in his post {his writting} and with that i will leave like supergirl …having done a good deed for the less forunates in the world …up….up…and awayyyyyyyy.
Wow,you dont know this person,anyone that text and drive could kill and for you to think he had the right to have the possiblity to kill innocent people for his selfish actions only state that you are the waste of skin and life,and for you to S.T.F.U and your good deed was the showing to your parents that they raised a person with no life that you do not have,so have a good day.
I realize this post is quite old…however, it resonates…so, I though I would comment. I agree wholeheartedly, Paul. I work in the communications field as well. These devices are pervasive. Our reliance upon them is ironic to say the least. It would be interesting to talk with you sometime if possible.
Happy New Year!