STOP IN THE NAME OF ERICA

WATCHED OVER BY AN ANGEL

Coming from my vivid perspective, the horror of the gut-wrenching accounts shared with me that unassuming day caused my ears to immediately want to stop hearing. As I tried to wrap my mind around the overwhelming rush of emotion that had made its way into the conversation, no words could ever be sufficient to address the cruel fate leveled by this reality. Nevertheless, my heart was softened to feel a parent’s pain absorbed by this story’s most tragic chapter whose outcome was all too capable of dropping many of us to our knees had we received similar news about someone we cared for, let alone a beloved family member. Sadly, the story behind this grief-stricken sorrow was shared by a mentor and friend. Someone who as a result of their loss has become motivated to save others by leading the narrative on distracted driving and with whom I am honored to stand in stalwart support, although my past actions were not always as loyal.

This story I would like to share begins with a life altering decision gone horribly wrong. Driving with cell phone in hand or anything else for that matter, draws our attention from our zone of safe operation and directly increases the risk of tragedy. I am sure there are many who have not, but I am one who has driven distracted along with those, who just like me, I now hope will revisit their priorities and make the decision which saves lives each and every time we are behind the wheel. In this instance, I would also like to share the painful story about a precious life that was lost, while afterwards, hoping you will be motivated and then dissuaded from taking similar risks of driving while distracted which otherwise has the potential of making this story precisely about you. But before offering a solution, I ask that you imagine the pain realized by a family who in an instant found themselves minus one of their most precious members.

This loss is about a vibrant child of innocence, the rock who was always available to her sisters as well as a wise, reassuring soul to her parents. Remembered lovingly as a playful best friend whose upbeat and healing-like qualities left others to feel valued while also marveling at the comedic trail she left behind. Her name is Erica Leanne Forney. At nine years old she was the epitome of innocence and the lead personality of her close-knit family. Also at the tender age of nine, she was struck by a distracted driver while pedaling her bike home from school.

“It was two days later that her life gave way to death on Thanksgivings Day.” S.F.

A loss shared with me by her mother I too know of that dry swallow you may have just taken, as well as the shortness of breath and dropping of the heart. Perhaps your eyes have reacted to block this reality similar to the way my ears also tried to convince myself not to hear. On a day which many revere its significance as being about family, this “full of life,” nine year old girl named Erica, was tragically lost by the actions of a distracted driver who happened to be a neighbor.

As you can imagine many hard days continue to be had for a family as well as a community nine years after such enormous heartache. What has helped countless others to continue forward is the light Erica’s memory continues to leave behind in her physical absence. Erica’s mother, my business mentor and friend, Shelley Forney, is a nationally renowned speaker for Distracted Driving Awareness. As well as educating a largely uninformed population about the very real consequences of distracted driving, Shelley has used her daughter’s light to represent other families traumatized by the recklessness of this callous behavior. Allowing others to internalize how close to home tragedy can truly strike, Shelley has poignantly referred to her daughter’s last attempted journey back to her safe haven as, “15 Pedals From Home.” Is there an angel in your life that could be taken away in similar fashion?

The tragedies that result from one person’s choice to make an unwise decision of driving distracted oftentimes leave a residual and lasting pain which in this case beckons us to realize the angels that are in our lives today who also can be taken away just as quickly and close to home as was Erica. It is furthermore imperative to accept the reality that somewhere this very hour, a distracted driver has taken away another angel who will never again return to their own safe haven. Erica’s light however, is also a redemptive light. A light which has given us the confidence we are one common resolve away from safeguarding the remaining living angels and their families from a pain which no one should have to endure.

  If the action to put away distractions is nonexistent after receiving the awareness, what is left by this missed opportunity to change is the futile mindset, “loss of life at the hands of a distracted driver can happen to anyone, anywhere.”

Imagine the lives saved if we are motivated into action by remembering the sacrifice of this particular angel who once lived her life among us. Certainly, this real life trauma is painful enough to sharpen our resolve while mitigating these risks which are the byproducts of the behavior. After knowing of Erica and reflecting on the days when my own recklessness could have gone terribly wrong similar to her unaware neighbor, I found myself concluding; should a sisterly bond ever again be broken or a parent shattered by guilt and grief ever be repeated by my own decision of driving while distracted? Most would agree it is asinine at best to repeat such potentially life threatening behavior, yet trends have shown an increase in tragedies similar to Erica’s across the globe. The lessons of a lost life such as Erica’s should encourage us all to make conscious decisions of driving with both hands ready to take the wheel while steering and navigating amid someone else’s beloved angel.

I implore you to lock arms with Shelley and her family along with our greater world community while becoming an example of driving committedly focused, even if you lack good examples in your immediate surroundings. Encourage others to save a life and at the very least a precious little angel like Erica. As many adoring families, who like the Forney’s have no desire to lose a child at the hands of a distracted driver ever again, have also given voice to the frustration and outrage that many continue to needlessly die because a vehicle operator is willing to take a chance. Let us respect this loving girls memory who gave the ultimate price by stopping the behavior and speaking to those around us of the unplanned consequences from all sides of this senseless tragedy. 

It is with an appreciative heart that I thank you for allowing me to convey a friend and mentor’s story as I have been grateful to share a huge part of her family’s “Little Miss Sunshine.” Join me in giving back towards all that Erica gave by making the simple commitment to protect our remaining angels and especially remembering this precious one in particular. Let us all be a part of this greater resolve to avoid the distractions while driving and dedicate to remain focused, thereby honoring the sacrifice of this irreproachable angel for change who’s legacy lives on.

Erica Leanne Forney 

Stop In The Name of Erica all content authorized by the Forney family