Shawna's Story: A Family's Loss From Texting & Driving
By: Deanna King
Updated: January 2, 2012
A Brockport mom is using her personal tragedy to make a difference. Kris Cyr's daughter, Shawna, died in a car accident in 2006. Investigators say Shawna was texting and driving. "It is a parent's nightmare," said Kris Cyr. Cyr, a teacher in Brockport, now visits other schools to share Shawna's story on the lessons of distracted driving.
According to AAA, there are more than 7-thousand car accidents everyday because of distracted driving. The risk of a car accident increases by 50 percent for people who text while driving. "We are so conditioned, regardless of what we are doing, to reach for the phone and find out who is there and immediately respond," said Kris Cyr. "A message can wait until you stop the car, until you are home."
Casey Cyr was just 13-years-old when her older sister Shawna died. "I don't want anybody to go through what our family has been through," said Casey Cyr. She goes with her mother to speak to high school students. "We can't help but cry and I think people understand the impact that it has on us too." During the presentation the Cyrs play video of Shawna from when she was a baby. Kris Cyr hopes the images of what they lost will make people think twice before taking their hands off the wheel. "I won't see her ever get older. We didn't see her graduate. We won't see her get engaged, get married and have children," said Kris Cyr. "They hear this stuff all the time, but if they feel it maybe they will stop."
According to AAA, there are more than 7-thousand car accidents everyday because of distracted driving. The risk of a car accident increases by 50 percent for people who text while driving. "We are so conditioned, regardless of what we are doing, to reach for the phone and find out who is there and immediately respond," said Kris Cyr. "A message can wait until you stop the car, until you are home."
Casey Cyr was just 13-years-old when her older sister Shawna died. "I don't want anybody to go through what our family has been through," said Casey Cyr. She goes with her mother to speak to high school students. "We can't help but cry and I think people understand the impact that it has on us too." During the presentation the Cyrs play video of Shawna from when she was a baby. Kris Cyr hopes the images of what they lost will make people think twice before taking their hands off the wheel. "I won't see her ever get older. We didn't see her graduate. We won't see her get engaged, get married and have children," said Kris Cyr. "They hear this stuff all the time, but if they feel it maybe they will stop."
Comments
The tragedies that your family has had to endure is unbearable. I applaud your courage and hope no parent ever has to go through what your family has gone through. God bless you.
Anonymous A.
January 5, 2012 at 9:03 pm
@ Chris: Thank you for what you did at Shawna's accident. It means alot to the family to have people like yourself that took time out to help their loved one while they couldn't. Being a member of the fire department myself i uderstand whast you do. Thanks again for what you did and for sticking up for Shawna and her family when they didn't know that people were putting them down adn calling them liers. Its nice to know there are so many people in the community that are supporting a mother's mission to save lives.
Anonymous A.
January 5, 2012 at 1:51 pm
@ anonymous: if you knew about the story you would know that the accident happened in Sweden between White road and Swamp road and if you don't think alot of animals cross 19 then you must not travel up there. I am dating Shawna's youngest sister so i know the story behind her accident. Her parents were in Myrtle Beach at the time of the accident, and she had gone to parties without them knowing. And the person at that party providing the alcohol was brought up on charges. And for you to say that everything i said was a lie just shows you don't know much about the story. All of what i said was proven by the investigators. Also the woman that was following Shawna and found her after her accident told the Cyr family that she saw the animal run across the road so again please get your facts straight. You say that she was doing alot before she crashed, why do you think she crashed?! She had alot of things against her that night. Get your facts straight before you post something.
Anonymous A.
January 5, 2012 at 1:25 pm
She is trying to do something positive for the community and help kids become aware of how dangerous distracted driving is. You don't know the whole story no one does so get over yourself and stop being so rude when she's doing good. You don't know what happened so keep your mouth shut and don't assume anything that isn't a proven fact.
Anonymous A.
January 5, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Listen I remember that night and personally know the family my wife is good friends with the Cyr family and I know and am friends with all the people that responded to the call that night. Please keep your comments positive. It is a fact that she was coming home from a party it is proven that she was texting they initially thought alcohol was a factor but it was ruled out. It was a horrible tragedy no matter what exactly happened and no one will ever know exactly what happened that night. But the fact that the cyr family is using this to teach teens to be responsible behind the wheel and not be distracted is great. Being in emergency services for over 10 yrs I've seen many lives cut short and I think what the Cyr family is doing is great and inspirational.
Anonymous A.
January 5, 2012 at 5:18 am
@ "family friend" that sure sounds lie a lot of stuff to be doing while you are driving. I am surprised she could even hold on to the wheel. And I have lived in Broclport almost all my life... I never knew of many animals crossing any roads there so maybe that was just a big cover up. I mean come on... drinking coffe... texting... and swerving all at once... I believe that is a big fat LIE. Just saying and people have the right to exress their opinions. Thanks... and also @ Concerned Resident... I agree with you... if she was at a party she was probably drunk... and everybody knows that the main reason that accidents happen is because of drinking and driving... and I believe that if her parents knew about her drinking and being underage... then they should have been brought up on charges too.
Anonymous A.
January 5, 2012 at 4:59 am
Also, the Cyrs don't hide the fact that Shawna was at parties before her accident but what difference to a family that just lost a loved one whether she was drunk or not? It won't bring her back! I really hope that you are proud of yourself for puting down a mother's mission to try and save the lives of people in our communities! And for putting down a girl that is dead! Again I hope you are proud of yourself! Are you doing anything in your community to help stop kids from getting hurt and killed in accidents? Well this mother is so stop trying to get in the way of it and do something good for society and either keep your comments positive or just keep your mouth shut!
Anonymous A.
January 5, 2012 at 2:46 am
To who ever the "Concerned Resident" is clearly you aren't concerned enought to get your facts straight before you post something about this tragedy. I grew up with the Cyr family and am with them almost every single day still to this day. And for you to post that she was drunk and drove just proves how idiotic you truely are. The Cyrs don't even know if she was drunk or not, so unless you were at the parties that she attended before her accident and maybe was even invoved in providing the alcohol tha twas at the parties then how would you know? And actually the family saw the text message that Shawna sent at the time of her accident, she also was driving a van she had neveer driven before, was holding a coffee, adn swirved to miss an animal. There is no reason for you to try and put Shawna down.
Anonymous A.
January 5, 2012 at 2:40 am
She was drunk and drove, there was no texting involved. No one wants to talk about underage drinking and how that was a problem.
Anonymous A.
January 5, 2012 at 2:25 am
What a horrible tragedy. Good for this Mom for wanting to make a difference and talking about this. Her pain must be unbearable and my heart goes out to her.
Anonymous A.
January 3, 2012 at 4:26 am
