Though the practice is known to be dangerous, and is now outlawed in much of the U.S., texting while driving is something that many teens and adults do on a regular basis.

This week, a grieving family, who claim their son’s death was due to text messaging while driving, is issuing a warning to other drivers. Greenly, Colorado police and the family of Alexander Heit, who died last week after becoming distracted by texting, are pleading with the public to avoid Alexander’s fate. To hammer this message home, an image of the text that Alexander was crafting at the time of the accident has been released. It reads: “Sounds good my man, seeya soon, ill tw.”

(image)

“I can’t bear the thought of anyone else having to go through something like this,” said Sharon Heit, Alexander’s mother. “Please, vow to never, NEVER text and drive. In a split second you could ruin your future, injure or kill others, and tear a hole in the heart of everyone who loves you. And in honor of Alex’s memory, please do something kind for a stranger who needs help, as Alex always wished for a world were people were kinder to each other.”

According to police, 22-year-old Alexander had become distracted by his texting while traveling on a road with a narrow dirt shoulder. He began drifting into oncoming traffic in the opposite lane and then over-corrected, flipping his car over the side of the road. He died at the North Colorado Medical Center some time later.