A teen, a cellphone, a tragic accident

Kelsey Raffaele holds a “Senior” sign at a pep assembly shortly before she was killed two years ago. (Raffaele family photos)

Because she's the mother of three teenagers, Kelly Rossman, the Lansing public relations strategist, is twisting arms in the Legislature - on behalf of Bonnie Raffaele and "Kelsey's Law."

Because she lost her 17-year-old daughter Kelsey two years ago, Bonnie Raffaele is a mom on a mission. That tragedy has upended her life and will take her from Sault Ste. Marie to Lansing next week, where she will testify in support of a proposed ban on cellphone use for novice drivers.

Her daughter Kelsey, then a senior in high school — vivacious, pretty, big-hearted — misjudged the distance that winter day between her compact car and an oncoming Dodge Durango. Kelsey's last words, to a friend on the other end, were "Oh, sh—t, I'm going to crash." She said that twice, before the line went dead. Her cellphone was later found in the backseat.

A college instructor and full-time schools technology expert, Raffaele has crisscrossed the state speaking to high school students about the dangers of cellphone use while driving. Even her voice mail says; "I'm driving now." The statistics are compelling: nationally, 1.6 million accidents a year involve using cellphones and texting.


Laura Berman
From The Detroit News:

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