‘Forever incomplete’ family pleads with Minnesotans to stop dangerous driving habits
April 3, 2023
Amy and Greg LaVallee share the story of their son, Phillip, who was killed by a distracted driver.
Phillip LaVallee had a magnetic personality. He was smart, kind and genuine. His dream was to run in the Olympics.
He never made it.
Phillip's life was cut short Aug. 8, 2013. A distracted driver hit and killed the 19-year-old while he was running along the shoulder of County Road 19 in Wright County. Investigation turned up no skid marks on the road, meaning the driver didn't even attempt to brake or steer away from Phillip.
“It was as if the driver just simply drove off the road, hitting our son in the process," said his father, Greg LaVallee.
The driver received a phone call and looked away from the road. Phillip lost his life due to one driver's selfish decision to use the phone behind the wheel.
“If that driver had focused on driving, had been paying attention that day, Phillip would still be with us," Greg said.
His family is still devastated nearly 10 years later. “Our family is heartbroken and forever incomplete," said Phillip's mother, Amy LaVallee.
Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Director Mike Hanson described the incident as a “preventable, needless tragedy."
It's far from the only tragedy distracted driving has caused. In 2022, preliminary figures show distracted driving contributed to 126 serious injuries and 22 deaths.
It's up to each of us to change our behavior. Hanson challenged every Minnesotan who is still using a cell phone behind the wheel to give it up for the month of April and create new, safer habits behind the wheel. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
“It's really incumbent on each of us as a driver and as a passenger to make sure that driving task is getting all of the attention that it needs," Hanson said.
At the end of those 30 days, driving will be easier and less stressful, and you'll be much safer behind the wheel. Driving is a complex task, and it requires all of us to give it our full attention, so everyone can use our roads safely.
Cell phones aren't the only distraction that can be dangerous while driving. Trying to multitask behind the wheel by eating or putting on make-up could pull your eyes or mind away from the road and cause a crash.
“The trick is to set your car up ahead of time to make sure those distractions are minimized," Hanson said.
If you don't put the distractions away, you could find yourself pulled over — or worse. You could end up destroying lives — or ending one. Minnesota law enforcement agencies and traffic safety partners across the state will be participating in a four-week distracted driving extra enforcement and awareness campaign through April 30. The campaign is coordinated by OTS.
Learn more about how to make safe choices behind the wheel at DriveSmartMN.org.
