In 3 seconds, reading a text turned into a driving disaster

Shyann Ericksen never thought twice about reading text messages while driving, so when her phone pinged while she was making a left turn in Eagan last summer, she reflexively picked it up. It took her three seconds to read the four-word message.

But in that time, an oncoming car entered the intersection of Diffley and Nicols roads. Ericksen didn't see it; she turned without looking up.

She hit the other vehicle head-on. The impact left Ericksen dazed and shaken and a toddler riding in the other vehicle with a traumatic brain injury.

"It's the worst feeling ever to know that you hurt somebody," the 17-year-old from Shakopee said Thursday as she spoke publicly about the events of July 17, 2014, for the first time. "I still have nightmares about it."

Ericksen was charged in Dakota County Court with criminal vehicular operation inflicting great bodily harm and was sentenced two weeks ago. Her punishment includes being on probation until she turns 19, completing 112 hours of community service, paying restitution to a victims organization and speaking publicly about the dangers of texting and driving.

Ericksen said she was on her way to summer school just after 8 a.m. on the day of the crash when the text message from a friend came in. She looked ahead once, and since she had to wait for one vehicle to pass by she felt she had time to put her eyes down to read the text. She forgot to look again to see if the intersection was clear, and turned directly into a vehicle driven by Kelsey Dyals, of Rosemount.

Dyals' 15-month-old son, Henry, was strapped in a car seat in the back seat. The jolt was so strong that it left him bleeding and drifting in and out of consciousness. Henry was rushed to Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare hospital, where he underwent surgery to relieve swelling in his brain. He spent 13 days in a medical coma.

The toddler is still on anti-seizure medication and returns to the hospital regularly for neurological evaluations, Eric Palmer, the family's lawyer, said Thursday.

"He has a small void in the back right side of his brain cavity, but he is doing quite well. The parents are cautiously optimistic [about a full recovery]."

Ericksen said she is still haunted by the grisly scene. She recognizes how the seemingly innocuous behavior of texting can be life changing.

"I almost killed somebody," she said.

Now she's on a mission to get the word out to family and friends that no text message is that important.

According to data from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, distracted driving was a factor in 16,920 crashes last year and led to 7,377 injuries.

Ericksen said she would not blame Dyals for being angry at her. She said it's been difficult to move on. The incident has changed her, too.

She doesn't drive anymore, and she put finishing school on hold. Ericksen is working to earn her GED and still hopes to go to college one day. For now, she works two jobs to earn the money she will need to pay restitution.

Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768