DANICA LACEY SPEAKS TO THE MCHS STUDENT BODY ABOUT THE ACCIDENT THAT KILLED HER BOYFRIEND, DONOVAN TESSMER. A PICTURE OF THEM TOGETHER REMAINED ON THE SCREEN AS SHE SPOKE. GAZETTE PHOTO BY JILL BALLINGER Mariposa County High School students got an emotional message about the dangers of driving last week. The message, however, was a little different from the typical “don’t drink and drive” campaign.

Through a mother who lost her 17-year-old son and the young woman who killed him, students learned of the hazards of distracted driving. They heard startling statistics about how adding passengers, playing loud music and talking or texting on the cell phone can up the chances of a crash. Mostly, though, they heard of the heartbreak of two families after taking a chance driving distracted ended in tragedy.

Martha Tessmer, a Madera Ranchos mother, took the stage and displayed her son Donovan’s letterman’s jacket. She told the students of her son’s dedication to football and his plans to continue his career in college. Donovan and four of his friends went out for a movie the night before beginning their senior year at Liberty High School. Donovan would not live to start the school year.

MARTHA TESSMER HUNG HER LATE SON, DONOVAN’S, LETTERMANS JACKET ON THE STAGE AT MCHS DURING HER PRESENTATION. DONOVAN TESSMER WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN THE MADERA RANCHOS AREA RIGHT BEFORE HIS SENIOR YEAR. GAZETTE PHOTO BY JILL BALLINGER Tessmer explained how the loss of her son impacted so many people, breaking the circle of his life. “We are still broken,” she said of his friends and family. “Still unraveled.”

His girlfriend, Danica Lacey, was driving Donovan and three friends home that summer night. Music was blaring, the back seat passengers weren’t wearing seat belts. Lacey was speeding and lost control. The passengers were seriously enough injured that she faced three counts of reckless driving causing great bodily injury.

Because her boyfriend died as a result of the crash, she was charged with felony vehicular manslaughter. She faced four years in state prison. There was no alcohol involved in the crash.

Lacey told the MCHS student body how awful it was to hear Martha Tessmer’s anguished screams when she realized her son was gone. She said her actions “crushed” the lives of those she loved. “All these dreams were shattered,” Lacey said.

“It really opened up my eyes and helped me focus a little more on the road instead of on other things,” said ASB President Richard Ballinger, who participated in the assembly. He said the message came through, loud and clear.

Some students at MCHS estimated that about 50 percent of drivers they know text or talk while driving. Statistics back that perception. The National Young Driver Survey shows that 53 percent of teens have seen others use a handheld device like cell phone or ipod while driving.

Local students were stunned to find out that the chances of a crash go up nearly 900 percent when distracted by such things. Something as simple as having three passengers increase the risk of death by 300 percent.

According to Impact Teen Drivers, crashes are the leading cause of death for youth. The majority of these crashes are caused by inexperience or distractions, not “thrill-seeking” or deliberate risk taking. The fatality rate for someone 16 to 24 years old is twice as high as other age groups.

MCHS Principal Celeste Azevedo said the Tessmers’ story carries a message for everyone, not just students. “I am so appreciative that Mrs. Tessmer and Ms. Lacey were willing to give their time to share the dangers of distracted driving with our students,” she said after the assembly. “It is important for our students and our community to realize that even the smallest distraction can cause an accident or take someone’s life.”

Azevedo agrees that the student body recognized the importance of what was presented. “I am confident that after hearing Donovan’s story, our students will take responsibility for operating their vehicles in a safe and distraction-free manner.”

MCHS health teacher Trace DeSandres said the school brings the message to local students to spare everyone some heartache. “We want to make sure you never, ever have that experience,” DeSandres said of a fatal car crash.

For more information about the Impact Teen Drivers program, parents can visit www.impactteendrivers. org.