‘I Need to Quit Texting…’: Man Sends Fateful Message Before Driving Over Cliff
- Posted on August 2, 2012 at 11:32pm by
Mytheos Holt
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Driving under the influence of alcohol can have demonstrably horrific effects. Yet, few people seem quite as exercised about the similarly dangerous phenomenon of texting while driving, an act that takes one’s eyes off the road and opens up potentially awful eventualities.
One young man, miraculously, survived one of those eventualities and has lived to tell the tale. Meet Chance Bothe, a young man who miraculously survived after driving his truck into a 35 foot deep ravine, having been rescued from the car seconds before it caught fire:
Bothe survived the crash barely alive, with a series of critical injuries. The Huffington Post gives more backstory on Bothe’s terrifying ordeal, and miraculous recovery:
Bothe miraculously survived despite suffering brain injuries and breaking nearly every bone in his body, including his cheekbones, neck and skull. He also had to be brought back to life three times, reports WBTV.
This past Wednesday Bothe left the hospital after a six-month stay that included numerous reconstructive surgeries and intensive rehabilitation (he even had to learn how to speak again), according to ABC13. Though the incident took place January 24, only now is he able to discuss the crash.
“Don’t do it. It’s not worth losing your life,” Bothe said of texting behind the wheel,per the 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.”
Just for reference, these images, courtesy of the Daily Mail, sum up what Bothe looked like immediately following the accident:
And here’s a comparison image of Bothe, now, after his six months physical therapy and miraculous recovery:
And speaking of that therapy, KHOU of Houston, Texas, has the following video and print reports giving the blow by blow of what‘s happened since Bothe’s accident:
“I said, ‘Call the funeral home. He’ll never make it,’” Bobby Bothe admitted he said after he’d been told of his son’s extensive injuries. “We lost him three times. They brought him back. He coded three times.”
But Chance Bothe defied the odds and began his rehabilitation at TIRR. He had to learn to walk again. His brain injuries have had an effect on his personality. His dad estimates that 80-percent of his son has returned six months after the accident. But that’s enough of a percentage for Chance Bothe to understand the message he can now send about the dangers of texting and driving.
“They just need to understand don’t do it. Don’t do it. It’s not worth losing your life,” he said. “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 in that casket.’ I came very close to that. To being gone forever.”
“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. That’s how strongly I believe it. It about took him,” said Bobby Bothe.[...]
Bothe, who may still face additional surgeries and rehabilitation, promises that he will spread the message about the dangers of texting and driving for the rest of his life.
So, if any parents are in the audience, be warned – texting and driving is not necessarily a harmless distraction. But don’t take our word for it, take Chance Both’s pre-crash. Apparently one of the texts he sent before his fateful accident was:
“I need to quit texting.”
Now, presumably, he will.
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Comments (75)
AR does not stand for ASSAULT RIFLE
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:29pmWhy do I have the sudden urge for some chicken wings??
Report Post »garbagecanlogic
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:12pmThe headline describing him as a “man” is totally misleading. He is just an immature boy. Look at the kids face, he looks like he is the dullest tack in the box. Best that he spend him hospital and rehab time growing upand becoming mature.
Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
jowettusmc
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 9:17pmAbo
Report Post »crazygirl21
Posted on August 12, 2012 at 9:44pmLet me just say to u mr GARBAGECANLOGIC… U know nothing about this young MAN so before u want to say he is a boy and not a man u might wanna learn ur facts. Everybody makes mistakes but what you DON’T know is that this YOUNG MAN is changing lives everywhere. He is making an impact on people everywhere. It may not mean anything to you but he could be saving peoples lives around you that you care about. Yes he was texting and driving but he’s learned his lesson. The last 6 months were some of the hardest months in some of our lives.. Wondering if he was gonna make it or if he was ever gonna be the same Chance again. Some people really need to think before they say stuff.. Everybody acts like they have never text and drove before when everyone has been guilty of it one or more times. Just sayin!!!
Report Post »marshall1963
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:04pmI’m getting to the point in my life where I really dislike people…they’re the worst.
Report Post »butane
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:16pmHas anyone ever sent or received a text important enough to risk your life on?
Report Post »restoretheusa
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:11pmI agree, the more I live the less I like humans.
Report Post »BeeDee
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 9:10pm“People are stupid.”
Report Post »uptickusa
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 12:09pmTexting while driving should be banned-I don‘t care if you kill yourself but hell don’t take me bro
Report Post »The0bserver
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 10:57amSome people live only to be a lesson to others, it would seem.
Report Post »Redwood Elf
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 11:38amSomeone needs to collect “Famous Last Texts” as a book…the subtitle could be “Texting while driving not safe LOL!”
Report Post »Hiswill
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 11:39amYour right. He will make a great poster child for the “don’t text while driving” campaign.
Report Post »TROONORTH
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 10:14amBut if kids can’t text, like while they’re, like driving, how, like can they post, like all the really important stuff, like what they are doing right, like now and what, like they are thinking about, like someone else, like or what they are going to be doing, like tonight ‘n stuff . . …. . . .. .. like?
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 12:12pmJust yesterday I almost got side swiped by a lady 3 times. When I got up to the light beside her, I could see she was texting. I hate to make judgement calls, but it was a black lady in a really bad wig and my first thought was, is that a government phone? I used to not do that until I met a lady on welfare/foodstamps/disability and all 4 of her kids and her have blackberries.
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 9:53amI hate all these don’t text while driving warnings. It’s like everything else with driving. You either suck at driving or you don’t. If you suck at driving you should probably give 100% of your attention to the road. If you are actually good at driving, feel free to change the radio, answer a quick text when you’re able to. Basically if you get in a crash because of texting, you were probably already on your way to getting in a crash over something.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 10:18amIf the roads are so much more dangerous today ..
commonsense dictates that people would abstain from this behavior..
Unless people that commit this act have ‘impaired thinking’
or lack of ‘common sense’..
Maybe we should give people tickets for that…!
Report Post »aTrueAMERICAN27
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 11:33amTotally agree about the point, if you suck at driving you should probably be focused 100% on the road. I’m an excellent driver (of course I am!), probably got a lot to do with playing racing games (which studies have shown make better drivers), and doing a bit of on-track road racing…but I still don‘t touch my phone unless I’m, at a red light and have time for it. Too many crazy, awful drivers on the road to watch out for. The real reason for my comment….love the user name \m/ o.o \m/
Report Post »AR does not stand for ASSAULT RIFLE
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:28pmI’m sure you are a good driver, it‘s not you I’m worried about, It‘s the countless flapjacks out there who can’t even chew gum and drive.
Report Post »Constantine Ivanov
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 5:14pm@DIMMUBORGIR
“If you suck at driving you should probably give 100% of your attention to the road,” you said.
In other words, you imply that all those 42,000 deadly casualties per year we have on our roads due DUIs are those who “suck at driving.”
Where did you learn that nonsense?
Report Post »Shadowangel
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 9:20pmYou can change the radio channel without looking, you can answer your phone without actually looking at the phone, but you can’t text without looking at your phone. So, sorry but I disagree with you, texting IS dangerous, no matter how good you are at driving. Even getting agitated because of a discussion with a person either on the phone or in the vehicle with you can be dangerous. Your attention should be focused on the road, period.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 10:34amYep. It’s all about you.
Report Post »Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:05pmThat is the DUMBEST line of logic I’ve read this morning. Everybody — and I don‘t care if you’re a terrific driver who’s never had an accident or been ticketed — should give the road 100-percent of their attention 100-percent of the time. All it takes is one second of inattentiveness while traveling in heavy traffic or at high speeds to spell disaster. Wake up, Bozo!
Report Post »skippy6
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 9:02amHello, my name is Bob and I’m a textaholic…..here’s my story…….
Report Post »The Jewish Avenger
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 9:40amwe should send him a Get Well Soon text
Report Post »ColoradoMaverick
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 7:49amI know the solution: Let’s have our government pass some more laws prohibiting texting while driving so they can protect stupid people from themselves! What?? They already have a law against texting while driving?? Then how did this happen? I thought when the government passed a law, it solved the problem!!!
Report Post »Here’s your sign…
guz75
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 7:30amThere was a study on this a couple of years ago. They discovered that because people were only looking up briefly, the brain only forms a proper image of what’s directly ahead and fills in the gaps in your peripheral vision. In effect it’s like driving wearing blinkers, closing your eyes every 2-3 seconds and then opening them for a second, it’s particularly dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists, as the driver can‘t see anything but what’s directly ahead of them and even then only briefly.
Report Post »Grandpa Dave
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 7:30amTexting and driving can be hazardous to one’s physical wellbeing as in this case. But how about when a bus driver, passenger train engineer, truck driver on the interstate, etc. text or reading newspapers while operating their vehicles that result in injuries and deaths of innocent people? Does anyone have suggestions on how to avoid these situations up-front before they get into their bus, train or truck? How about banning personal cell phones since they have, or should have, other means of communicating?
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 7:04amI don‘t even answer my cell phone when I’m driving. All of my family and friends know this. I only have vision in one eye, and I won’t look at my phone to see who is calling. It can wait until I’m safely off the road. I’ve have driven for over a decade without any accident, and one-eye vision. In fact, I’ve never had an accident.
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 9:56amYou shouldn’t be driving at all with no depth perception. But go ahead and say you’re a safe driver and look down on people who can see and answer the phone all while driving.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 10:31amDimmuBorgir
Report Post »Like Diane TX, I am blind in one eye and am a licensed driver. Per driving instructors and insurance agents I’ve talked to on this matter, folks minus one eye tend to be be more careful and vigilant (and, arguably, safer). To the best of my knowledge, we can’t get a CDL, but that’s about it when it comes to driving restrictions.
The only other problem I’ve had with one working eye is not being able to join the military. But I‘ve always been in pretty damn good shape and I’m a fair shot. Oh, and I tore the ASVAB a new one. Go figure.
Go ahead; say you’re a safe drive who should be allowed to do whatever the hell you want behind the wheel of a car. Why, you may be one of those not so rare “freeway Jesus” types.
JACKTHETOAD
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 5:54amI checked out all of your comments on this page.
Jingle all the way…
Report Post »Obamujahadeen
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:38amWell sounds like you might be the one that’s crazy once you go and read THIS… http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,201586,00.html
Report Post »Obamujahadeen
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:37amI used to be a tune cranking kid and now I can‘t stand nothing but AM radio on when I’m driving if even that and it’s getting worse and worse. Half the cars around you are doing this crud, faxing, yapping, emailing, watching tv, playing ”Deathstar Destroyer” in the backseat on dad’s headrest, it’s too much distractions.
Driving I don’t care what anyone says takes a certain amount of paying attention, like looking at the road. @@
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:50pmI once saw a guy driving down the freeway at a high rate of speed while brushing his teeth and spitting out the window. Some people are just plain stooopid.
Report Post »AR does not stand for ASSAULT RIFLE
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:34pmThe other day I had one pass me, holding his cellphone against his ear with a shoulder, eating ice cream with a spoon and holding the cup with the other hand while steering with his knees.
Report Post »unpata
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:47amthey just passed a law about texting and driving in Idaho..I think they even made is to it is not a secondary offense…like they can pull you over for driving while texting…
Report Post »DEITY
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 1:36amI was interested in this story,thinking he is lucky to be alive until the picture of the Hooters Girl…..
Now,I am wondering is she hugging him because he survived his accident ,you know she feels sorry for him so she will be his bed buddy….Because it sure cant be for his smarts nor looks !!
God Bless Hooters girls !! I stand by Chick fil Hooters …er Fil-a and I stand by Hoosters !!
Report Post »FREEDOMoverFEAR
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 2:03amWhat because she poses with a guy she’s gonna bang him? If hooter girls did that there’d be a hooter appreciation day every day.
Report Post »JesterJay
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 2:22amif I servived this crash I would be doing more than hugging that hooters girl. lol
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 1:18amI am so happy this young man survived. His Grandmother (an Angel) was with him. Praise the Lord.
Report Post »FREEDOMoverFEAR
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 2:05amYup an angel saved him not crush points, air bags, and seat belts.
Report Post »The Jewish Avenger
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 9:41amNow you understand….
Welcome to the club! The cookies are in the back.
Report Post »Alessandre
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 2:36am@FREEDOMoverFEAR & TheJewishAvenger: Whereas his grandmother seems to have died after the crash (Mr. Bothe keeps thinking, ‘I’m surprised that’s not me in that casket.’), she almost certainly was not an angel at the time Mr. Bothe drove his car into the ravine (but since God can do anything, perhaps she was). Since many people do die in crashes that are as (or less) serious as the one Mr. Bothe survived while driving vehicles fitted w/ “crush points, air bags, and seat belts,” perhaps you wonder why an angel failed to save those lives, a reasonable question which one must ask God until he responds adequately. Safety devices function w/i limits & were not able to protect Mr. Bothe from “brain injuries and breaking nearly every bone in his body, including his cheekbones, neck and skull.” Additionally, even the Huffington Post (which is not known for believing in the supernatural) states “Bothe miraculously survived…” and, according to WBTV, “[h]e also had to be brought back to life three times.” So, whereas only God knows if an angel saved Mr. Bothe’s life, we do know that the results of the crash were so bad, safety devices were not enough to prevent death. Those w/ faith, know God helped Chance Bothe. Then there are those who are seriously asking why God would save Mr. Bothe & not others in similar crashes. I pray they persevere until God responds. As for the scoffers, I pray you repent.
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 3:35amIt was Jebbus hisself.
Report Post »ECtech
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:39amNo offense intended; but humans do not become angels when we die. Angels are separate entities that were present before humans were created.
Report Post »lylejk
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 12:53amAlmost got the Darwin award. Hope he doesn’t forget the lesson taught him by the school of hard knocks. :)
Report Post »v15
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 12:48am80%? Miracle. That Hooters chick is hot!
Report Post »unpata
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:49ami was thinking the same thing..think of the hooter man! think of the hooter
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 12:38amWas he acting out a scene from Monty Pythons Holy Grail?
King Arthur: [about the inscription on the rock] What does it say, Brother Maynard?
Report Post »Brother Maynard: It reads, “Here may be found the last words of Joseph of Aramathia. He who is valiant and pure of spirit may find the holy grail in the Castle of Aaauuuggghhh… ”
King Arthur: What?
Brother Maynard: “The Castle of Aaaauuuggghhhh”
Sir Bedevere: What is that?
Brother Maynard: He must have died while carving it.
King Arthur: Oh come on!
Brother Maynard: Well, that’s what it says.
King Arthur: Look, if he was dying, he wouldn‘t have bothered to carve ’Aaaauuuggghhhh’. He’d just say it.
Sir Galahad: Maybe he was dictating it.
King Arthur: Oh shut up!
Sir Robin: Well does it say anything else?
Brother Maynard: No, just “Aaaaauuuugggghhh”.
historyguy48
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 6:06amPersonally I like the sword fighting scene “It’s just a scratch!”
Report Post »Tankertony
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 12:35amCurious about this. How many of you have seen a car coming your way, and it starts to swerve a bit into your lane (then corrected by the grace of God). And you look at the ***** as they pass and they’re glued to their PDA (personal digital assistant)? Its happened to me in the last few years dozens of times.
Report Post »FREEDOMoverFEAR
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 1:59amQuit driving you *****. I drive in LA county on a bike daily and don’t have problems. Look at the person not the car before you pass. You’re a weakling and your type would never help this country progress.
Report Post »pooka_yc
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:14amWow! The anger level here is a bit high. Is it really necessary to call each other names?
Report Post »jcldwl
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 5:29am@ pooka
You are absolutely right. Who are these people?
Report Post »Constantine Ivanov
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 12:25amWhen one has no brain in his skull, the only way to learn a lesson is to get crashed.
Report Post »How much easier would be just to put the brain where it belongs and stop cooking it in the boiling testosterone sauce…
Sorry, but this youth is so stupid, so obsessed with their sexual stuff. no time, no ability to think clearly and responsibly
The-Real-Enrico
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 12:22amHe doesn’t even look like the same guy anymore.
I’m a young guy and I could stand see people text and drive. It only take me one drive to find out who will ride in a passenger seat with. I generally don’t trust most drivers.
Report Post »FREEDOMoverFEAR
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 2:00amProof read dear son proof read…
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on August 2, 2012 at 11:42pmDriving while texting is worse, or every bit as dangerous, as driving while drunk. I cannot stand seeing people using a phone at all while driving. It really bothers me, especially if I am on my motorcycle.
Report Post »v15
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 1:00amI’ve had so many near accidents because of texting. It’s ironic, cuz I never had close calls when I used to drive drunk, or under the influence of xtc and acid.
Report Post »DEITY
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 1:47amThe show Mythbusters actually tested drinking over the legal limit and then talking on a cell phone while driving sober !! One could only immagine how much worse they would have done if texting !!
When they were drunk they drove fine,actually couldnt tell they were hammered…like anyone 35 and older they all drove drunk several times in their life as it was normal to have several drinks at the office and drive home..everybody did it,even people who passed these strict laws and people from madd actually drove hammered at some point 99 % did at some point..
When they were just sober and talking on the cell phone they were all over the road,bumping and banging into things…
I used to see this all the time people would drive 30 under weaving driving real bad,but where I live they put a law banning talking on the phone and texting ( one law I am grateful for) and now people drive normally now..You can spot the talker/texter because they swerve/hold up traffic and drive extrememly bad …Talking on the phone and texting when driving should be banned !!! Because if you hit my prized ,beloved car I will put a big hurt on you,I didnt spend $23,000 and 2 years (60,000 labor ifit was a shop) restoring my classic car for some dolt texting or talking on the phone to hit me !! Trust me,I already severely beat a man for dinging my other old classic in a parking lot several years ago !! He deserved it as he just shrugged the dent on my ride as nothing,he soon realized it wasnt !
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 7:37amFREEDOMoverFEAR
Report Post »I think the point is the laws of physics aren‘t affected by whehter or not one’s loss of control can be attributed to drinking or texting. Either way, you can be just as dead or just as injured. Honestly, most of us are impatient, crap drivers to begin with. We go too fast, we’re too impatient and “IT’S ALL ABOUT ME!!!” If I didn’t know better, I‘d wonder if you didn’t post your call for self-mutilation while driving… some folks believe they’ve proven our aggression levels greatly increase behind the wheel of a car. As for the “I drink better when I drive” crowd, I have no problem if your draconian measures are applied to them. As the saying goes, stupid is as stupid does.
As someone who generally distrusts gubment and wants it limited, here is an area where I want the rest of you speeding, texting, aggressive, drunken clowns monitored and taken off the road. Someone wanna act like a potential whirlwind of destruction with a car? Go to private track or play Grand Theft Auto. I will not stand for the minimization of ANY irresponsible driving. No, it ain’t “all about you.” As with all matters of substance abuse (and even the addiction of texting), I don’t care what any clown does in private; it‘s when a clown makes its problem my problem and that of my friends and family that I WANT gubment cracking clown skull before said clown cracks mine or someone’s skull I care about. Too much to ask for?