We at the Levar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers are proud to announce the winner of our 2017 Safe Arkansas Scholarship: Edgar Aranda. The goal of this scholarship is to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving to young people as well as supporting the efforts of diligent and dedicated students.
Did you know that the National Highway Safety Traffic Association discovered that 3,447 people were killed by distracted driving and 391,000 were injured? Distracted driving can destroy lives, and we want our young people to live longer by knowing the consequences of driving distracted. High school and college students in Arkansas were given the challenge of creating a 30 to 60 second-long Public Service Announcement that highlights why distracted driving is dangerous. They also were given the option of gearing the video toward ways that drivers can avoid on-the-road distractions.
Yeah, Dude. I’m on my wayyyy….
Edgar filmed and edited a creative take on the dangers of distracted driving. His video began with a phone call from a friend, who asked if he was going to a party. After leaving his house and propping up his phone near the gearshift in his car, he received a text asking where he was. Edgar proceeded to text and drive, not noticing a pedestrian was crossing the road. To avoid hitting the pedestrian, he swerved his vehicle at the last second and crashed into a tree. The video ends with Edgar dead at the wheel and his last text saying “I’m on my waaayyyyy.”
Edgar graduated from Bryant High School this May and is attending Arkansas Tech University this Fall. He will be majoring in Criminal Justice. We are granting him $2,500, which will go to his university for tuition. His hard work in school along with his engaging and informative video has earned him our scholarship.
Congratulations again, Edgar! We are excited to see you succeed in college.
You can view the videos of two runners up here.
