Grieving parents' campaign: Don't drive while intexticated | Transportation

Heather Lerch was killed earlier this year when she lost control of her car while texting.

Lerch was proud of her new car, and promised to drive safely. But last February, she crashed her car south of Olympia. Troopers say she was texting right before it happened.

The victim's parents struggle to make it through each day.

"Yeah, it's really tough," said her mother, Wendy Lerch.

"We think about her every day. Never stop thinking about her, because it shouldn't have happened," said Dan Lerch, her father.

Despite their grief, the victim's parents say they want to do anything they can to show the dangers of texting and driving. They're part of a public service campaign with the state Department of Licensing.

They hadn't seen their daughter's car since the night of the crash, but were willing to face it on Friday to drive the message home.

"For me, it's helping in the healing that maybe we can save some other people's lives. And they see that, and that's real," said Wendy Lerch.

Starting June 10, police can pull you over for not using a hands-free device.

They don't have to wait for it to be a secondary offense. And they're going to crack down on texting, which is already a primary offense.

The DOT campaign has come up with a new phrase: don't drive while intexticated.

"Just don't text and drive," said Wendy Lerch. "It's not worth your life."    

"No, it's not, not one bit," said Dan Lerch. "Come home alive."
 
Even though Lerch's death is still fresh on their minds, Wendy and Dan Lerch said they wanted to speak out, and they want the wreckage to make the rounds of the schools.