Texting and driving causes three local teenagers major problems Saturday, September 28, 2013, in Waycross, Georgia. The driver was texting her best friend about the Georgia football game while driving north on Memorial Drive. She lost control of the vehicle and it crashed in the parking lot of the Mall at Waycross around twelve nouns. All three passengers were ejected from the vehicle. The driver suffered minor injuries, the front seat passenger was dead and the rear seat passenger had critical injuries requiring the services of a trauma center. The driver found her cell phone and called Ware County 911 screaming for help.

911 dispatched Ware County EMS, Waycross Fire/Rescue, Waycross Police, GSP and also requested Air Evac 90 to respond to the scene. Waycross Fire/Rescue arrived first on scene extinguished the vehicle fire and provided aid to the injured. Ware County EMS arrived with 2 Advanced Life Support ambulances and started treating the victims. The Georgia State Patrol and Waycross Police Department arrived on scene shortly after EMS. The Georgia State Patrol along with Waycross Police Department investigated the crash scene. The driver was arrested and taken to jail. Air Evac 90 advised Ware 911 that they cannot respond due to not being available at the time (other mission). Ware EMS transports the critical patient to the hospital. The funeral home transports the fatality (DOA) to the hospital to be pronounced dead and onto the funeral home. The Body Shop’s wrecker then removes the vehicle from the scene. There were 2 lessons learned. Do not text and drive and always buckle up! Ware County Community Emergency Response Team had their CERT trailer on display outside the Mall and they also had their CERT tent set up inside the mall educating the mall visitors on emergency preparedness. CERT Members were Perry Blackburn Ware County Citizen Corps Coordinator, Melissa Hyers, Assistant CERT Coordinator, Larry Soul, and Robby Parham CERT Logistic Officers and Taressa Crawford, CERT Action Officer. Satilla Medical Reserve Corps members were Dr, Bill Parham, Satilla Medical Reserve Corps Founder, Lori Henderson, Satilla MRC Director, Tessa Henderson, Satilla MRC Secretary, Melissa Hyers, Satilla MRC member and Perry Blackburn, Satilla MRC Coordinator.