A distracted driving accident that took the life of a mother of two from Minnesota has been covered extensively by the media. In the many articles touching on the subject, reporters talk about how the driver felt when he finally realized what he had done.

To drivers everywhere in the country, this story can serve as a painful reminder of how serious and fatal such distractions can be. In order to address the car safety problem caused by distracted driving, motorists must first admit they are ready to face the consequences of their actions.

The accident caused by a then 25-year-old happened when he was behind the wheel of his Chevrolet pickup truck. According to the official reports, the driver was operating his vehicle while on Highway 27 when he struck a bicycle rider. At the time, the woman on the bicycle was pulling her two children in a carrier. At the time of the accident, the driver was using his cell phone. According to his own account, all it took was a quick instant for him to cause the accident. The second he looked up again, he saw the bicycle lying in the road behind his car, that’s when he knew he had done something very wrong.

The 33-year-old woman was killed as a result of the accident while her two daughters suffered injuries that included a punctured lung and broken ribs.

After the deadly distracted driving accident, the driver was convicted of criminal vehicular homicide, causing him to serve 120 days in jail. But after he served his sentence, he decided that his story should be shared with others so deadly distracted driving accidents are avoided in the future.

During a news conference hosted by the local state patrol, the man talked about the distracted driving accident that claimed the life of the mother of two and how he regrets his actions. After the man spoke, the authorities released a video about the accident. Attendees got a chance to take a close look at the very serious, very real consequences of the practice for themselves.

To the Minnesota man, distracted driving is an epidemic. Unless it stops, more innocent pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers will be directly impacted.

To those who have been the victims of distracted driving accidents, the drama is all too real. If you’re serious about making sure that safety comes first, putting your phone down and looking ahead should be your top priority the minute you sit behind the wheel.

For more on this story, follow this link for the full report.