NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WDRB) -- Students at New Albany High School learned a life-saving lesson this week: that no text message is worth dying for.
Those students met a Louisville man who was just like them a few years ago. That is until his life was changed dramatically by a single text message.
"I was going to the movies and the car just went directly into the tree and it was a direct collision," says Wil Craig, who is a texting and driving crash victim.
That something was a short film about 22 year old Wil Craig, and how a single text message changed his life.
"This is the text message that changed my life forever," says Craig.
In 2008, Craig was a passenger when his girlfriend crashed while texting and driving. As a result, he suffered traumatic brain injury and had to relearn the simplest things like walking, getting dressed and even catching a ball.
Craig says, "I want to save someone from the pain that I went through."
And he is doing that by speaking to students all over the country and warning them about the dangers of texting and driving.
"Like all the time," says Justice Steven, New Albany High School Student.
11th grader Justice Stevens admits she's addicted to texting.
She says, "Yeah, it's a lot easier than like calling somebody; it keeps in touch with everybody."
Justice is still a new driver so she does try to limit her cell phone use in the car.
"Like usually at a stop sign or at a red light," says Stevens.
But after seeing the film and meeting Craig, Stevens says the text messages can wait.
"Yes, 'cause I'm never going to use my phone in the car," says Stevens.
Meanwhile, Craig says traveling all over the country isn't always easy but it's working. He says, "If I can just save one life, then all the hard work will be worth it."
Craig enjoys speaking to students, but he does have regrets including not speaking up when his girlfriend was texting and driving.
"I didn't care," Craig says. "I didn't think anything could ever happen, and ... wow."
Craig's former girlfriend walked away from the crash without a scratch. And his family never pressed charges against her.
Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.
Wil Craig, Lou. man injured in crash attributed to texting and driving. Matt English/WDRB News
