Community members affected by texting and driving visited GCHS Wednesday and addressed juniors and seniors, warning them of the dangers associated with distracted driving.

Shawn Coltharp, Hilary Coltharp, Gretchen Morgan, and Paducah Police Captain Donald Hodgson came to speak to Graves County High School teens to help them realize the dangers of distracted driving. For almost two and half years, this group has gone to any meeting or area that invites them to speak. When ask what kind of venues the group speaks at, Gretchen Morgan explained, “We have been to schools, youth groups, small or large meetings. From the time that Hilary was still severely injured, getting her story out to the public was important to her and she wanted to reach out.”

On September 1st, 2007, Hilary Coltharp was traveling to Land Between the Lakes to meet her family for labor day weekend. Just minutes before her life changed forever, Hilary talked with her family on the phone saying she was only 4 miles out. Not even 5 minutes later, Hilary was checking a text message on her phone when she lost control of her vehicle. Hilary was ejected from the vehicle in the process of it rolling at least three time.

Hilary was air lifted to Nashville where surgery was performed to remove part of her skull and brain to repair a bleed that was damaging her brain. Since her car wreck, Hilary has had to endure seemingly endless rehab and surgeries to help her body heal and progress. She has had to re-learn body functions, capabilites, friends, and family all over again. A brain injury as severe as Hilary’s is the same as growing up from the stage of a baby. New memories continue to arise for Hilary but almost all of her past has been erased from her mind.

The message that the group wanted to express was before you pick you pick up your phone, ask yourself if that text or social media site is worth your life.