Today's Darwin Award nominee

FLRacingFan

FLRacingFan

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Taking selfies and Facebooking while driving, crossed the median and drove head-on into a truck. At least she was so HAPPY.

HIGH POINT, N.C. — Investigators believe a driver was posting to Facebook seconds before she crashed and died.

The wreck happened Thursday morning on Business 85 in High Point. Investigators say 32-year-old Courtney Ann Sanford crossed the median and crashed head-on into
a truck.

Later on Thursday, investigators say some of Sanford’s friends and family told them about a Facebook post that Sanford made around the same time as the crash. Investigators discovered the Facebook post was made seconds before the deadly crash.

“The Facebook text happened at 8:33. We got the call on the wreck at 8:34,” explains Lt. Chris Weisner, with the High Point Police Department.

Investigators say Sanford’s Facebook post read: “The Happy Song makes me so HAPPY.”

“In a matter of seconds, a life was over just so she could notify some friends that she was happy,” says Weisner.

As investigators were tracing back Sanford’s online activity, they discovered she was also posting selfies as she drove down the road.

Sanford was letting her friends know how happy she was at that moment, and sadly that moment was one of her last.

“As sad as it is, it is a grim reminder for everyone… you just have to pay attention while you are in the car,” reminds Weisner.

The driver of the truck was not injured.

http://myfox8.com/2014/04/25/woman-posted-to-facebook-seconds-before-fatal-business-85-crash/
 
The truck driver may not have been physically injured but he's going to live with this forever. My uncle drove for Anchor Motor Freight delivering new cars. He lost his brakes and rear ended a car at a toll booth in CT. Several people died. This happened around 1960-61 and he never drove again. He passed away just a few years ago.
It really messed him up. Feel sorry for him.
 
At least she didn't take anybody else out with her. I do feel bad for the truck driver as well, though. But, at least he lived through it.
 
one more reason big insurance is pushing for self driving cars. This isn't going to stop certain people from driving and texting no matter how many die I'm afraid to say.
 
Dumbasses will never learn. Stupid kid, texting, rear-ended my truck at about 40-45 while I was sitting at a light.
 
BobbyFord said:
Dumbasses will never learn. Stupid kid, texting, rear-ended my truck at about 40-45 while I was sitting at a light.
Click to expand...
Same thing happened to me a year ago last January. $3500 damage to the rear bumper of my 2013 Ram 1500 4X4 Big Horn truck but completely totaled a $32,000 2013 Honda CR-V. It didn't move my truck at all, not even an inch. She was banged up but okay.
 
BobbyFord said:
Dumbasses will never learn. Stupid kid, texting, rear-ended my truck at about 40-45 while I was sitting at a light.
Click to expand...
Johali said:
Same thing happened to me a year ago last January. $3500 damage to the rear bumper of my 2013 Ram 1500 4X4 Big Horn truck but completely totaled a $32,000 2013 Honda CR-V. It didn't move my truck at all, not even an inch. She was banged up but okay.
Click to expand...
Same thing happened to one of our racers. 1990's F250 at a stop light, got creamed by a guy going 55. Wasted the F250's bed and tweaked the frame where the trailer hitch was. He took the hitch off, torched that part of the frame, and welded a new structure on for the hitch.

The other guy lived, but I'm not sure what he was driving. My friend said "It folded up like a tin can"
 
Devil's advocate here, where's the proof her phone caused her to veer into oncoming traffic? Say a ball joint or tie-rod broke on the piece of crap Kia or Hyundai she was driving at 75 mph, causing her to cross the median?


I'd like to see more accuracy than "within a minute of the post the crash happened". It's great PR for the "don't text and drive" movement, which I am all about. There are way too many actual accidents because of careless drivers behind the wheel but...

I feel like this chick might be getting slandered posthumously.. No facts just speculation.
 
DUN24 said:
Devil's advocate here, where's the proof her phone caused her to veer into oncoming traffic? Say a ball joint or tie-rod broke on the piece of crap Kia or Hyundai she was driving at 75 mph, causing her to cross the median?


I'd like to see more accuracy than "within a minute of the post the crash happened". It's great PR for the "don't text and drive" movement, which I am all about. There are way too many actual accidents because of careless drivers behind the wheel but...

I feel like this chick might be getting slandered posthumously.. No facts just speculation.
Click to expand...
I understand your point, but if she hadn't been on that phone in the first place she may have had a better chance at somewhat controlling the vehicle.
 
Of course there could have been a ball joint, tie rod failure but those are rare today. I got into a sneezing spasm one time and ended up in the oncoming lane. No telling what really happened.
 
racer8 said:
I understand your point, but if she hadn't been on that phone in the first place she may have had a better chance at somewhat controlling the vehicle.
Click to expand...

True, the odds are always more in your favor when you're 100% focused..
 
DUN24 said:
Devil's advocate here, where's the proof her phone caused her to veer into oncoming traffic? Say a ball joint or tie-rod broke on the piece of crap Kia or Hyundai she was driving at 75 mph, causing her to cross the median?


I'd like to see more accuracy than "within a minute of the post the crash happened". It's great PR for the "don't text and drive" movement, which I am all about. There are way too many actual accidents because of careless drivers behind the wheel but...

I feel like this chick might be getting slandered posthumously.. No facts just speculation.
Click to expand...


Funny you mention this....I drive some taxi part time. This day I was driving a 2007 Ford Crown vic and I was a rookie cabbie. I was in a parking lot and there was no one around while I was waiting for my fare. I decided to back up and get closer to the door and misjudged the distance to a concrete barrier. Right front fender got basically taken out. The car still drove and I was able to limp it to the shop. Steering was off though and I was ultra careful taking her back. Mechanic ends up telling me he does not know how I made it back as the tirerod was completely sheared off. If that happened in one of those small ford fusions the front of the car would be gone.

situations like this make me happy when I am driving a big car or truck. Its nice to have some iron in front of you.
 
DanicaFreak said:
Funny you mention this....I drive some taxi part time. This day I was driving a 2007 Ford Crown vic and I was a rookie cabbie. I was in a parking lot and there was no one around while I was waiting for my fare. I decided to back up and get closer to the door and misjudged the distance to a concrete barrier. Right front fender got basically taken out. The car still drove and I was able to limp it to the shop. Steering was off though and I was ultra careful taking her back. Mechanic ends up telling me he does not know how I made it back as the tirerod was completely sheared off. If that happened in one of those small ford fusions the front of the car would be gone.

situations like this make me happy when I am driving a big car or truck. Its nice to have some iron in front of you.
Click to expand...

You would have really felt it at highway speeds I'm sure.
 
DUN24 said:
Devil's advocate here, where's the proof her phone caused her to veer into oncoming traffic? Say a ball joint or tie-rod broke on the piece of crap Kia or Hyundai she was driving at 75 mph, causing her to cross the median?


I'd like to see more accuracy than "within a minute of the post the crash happened". It's great PR for the "don't text and drive" movement, which I am all about. There are way too many actual accidents because of careless drivers behind the wheel but...

I feel like this chick might be getting slandered posthumously.. No facts just speculation.
Click to expand...

Kirk said there were no intoxicating substances found in Sanford's body, and no difficult weather conditions on the day of the accident. Sanford had no known medical issues and there were no mechanical issues with her vehicle, said Kirk.

Police also noted that Sanford wasn't wearing her seatbelt properly at the time of the accident -- the shoulder harness wasn't in use.
Click to expand...

http://www.wptv.com/news/local-news...acebook-about-happy-song-seconds-before-death
 
Facebook, ruining relationships and costing life since 2004

facebook-enemies-657.jpg
 
And, FB has kept a group of friends together since the mid-90s --- from California to Maine -- from Alaska to Florida.
We met on the old Speedvision board and have stayed together. I've even met a lot of them at race parties in Atlanta.
Shared hotel rooms with women I'd never met, but knew for years.
 
Bobw said:
Of course there could have been a ball joint, tie rod failure but those are rare today. I got into a sneezing spasm one time and ended up in the oncoming lane. No telling what really happened.
Click to expand...

About 15 years ago I had a tie rod break while I was travelling at about 55 mph on the Interstate. It really wasn't that difficult to control, but I wasn't playing on a cell phone at the same time, and possibly some race driving instincts helped out too. That and I happened to already be slowing down because I was entering a construction zone. Was able to keep it off the Jersey barriers and other cars, then ease it into the end of an exit's acceleration ramp. Could steer it good enough while still moving, but "fagettahboudit" after it was stopped. Sure wouldn't want to try it without both hands on the steering wheel.
 
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