A Mother’s plea: Put down the phone, save a life

Distracted driving was the second-most common factor in Texas traffic crashes last year

Maria Espinoza of Irving never imagined a routine walk to school in 2011 with her 6-year-old son Misael Rico would turn into a life-altering tragedy.

But in an instant, a distracted driver jumped the curb, striking her son and trapping him beneath the vehicle. Misael spent six months in a coma, with doctors warning he might never walk or talk again.