(NECN: Jack Thurston, Colchester, Vt.) - Emma Vieira, the Vermont woman convicted in a high-profile case involving distracted driving, spoke to a high school class Monday about safe driving. "Please make the decision to put your phone away while driving," Vieira said during her presentation at Colchester High School.
In August of 2011, Vieira was behind the wheel when she struck a pedestrian walking her dog in Colchester. The pet was killed, and Debbie Drewniak nearly died, too. Drewniak was left with life-changing injuries and still needs medical care and therapy. "I wish I could go back in time and fix it all, but there's some mistakes that can't be fixed," Vieira told the students.
Vieira, who was 18 at the time of the crash, has admitted her mind was more on text messages that night than it was on the road. Her October 2012 guilty plea to a charge of negligent operation with serious injury resulting meant a short prison sentence, home confinement, and a lengthy period on probation. "It's extremely hard to get student loans with a felony on your record," Vieira told the students at her former high school. "It's also extremely hard to get a job."
Separately, the victim of the crash has been making presentations of her own to students, with the simple message to put down their cell phone when they pick up the car keys. She appeared at the same school on Friday.
New England Cable News caught up with Debbie Drewniak as she spoke to driver's ed students in November of 2013. "I hope people don't text and drive," she told NECN last fall. "I hope they get the message."
Drewniak's sister, Elizabeth Drewniak Brigante, reiterated the point Monday sitting alongside Vieira for the presentation. "Just wait until you get to your next stop," she told the students, urging them to put their phones on silent and place them in a back seat or glove compartment until they are safely at their destination.
The Colchester High School students paid close attention to the women's presentation, which included a screening of part of the 2013 documentary "One Second To The Next." That film, directed by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog, features Debbie Drewniak and other victims of distracted driving crashes. It is part of the AT&T Wireless "It Can Wait" campaign, which other cell phone carriers including Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile have joined. The video is available to view here.
Local
"Your life can be impacted so fast," said Colchester student Taylor Vulie, 16, describing the message she took away from the presentation. "Basically, to just not text and drive."
"It affects them for a long time, not just right when it happens," added Colchester student Mckenna Stannard, 15. "That will stay with them forever."
Emma Vieira and Elizabeth Drewniak Brigante said Vieira has a chance to see the felony wiped from her record if she stays out of trouble for several years, under an agreement with prosecutors and the Drewniak family. The felony would be replaced with a permanent misdemeanor, Vieira explained.
For now, Vieira seemed optimistic her mistake may remind others to keep a laser focus on the road while driving. "I'm sure some of you are sitting here thinking this would never happen to you, but I thought the same thing," Vieira told the driver's ed class. "Please sign the pledge to not text and drive to save your future, and also, someone else's."
For up-to-the-minute news and weather, be sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
