Faces of Distracted Driving: Eric Okerblom, 19 "Our son is gone, but we will be his voice"

Bob Okerblom was never a cyclist. And he certainly never imagined that he'd one day bike from coast to coast. But that is just what he's doing today--a tribute to the son he lost much too soon.

It was a clear summer day less than two years ago when 19-year-old Eric Okerblom set out on his own bike ride. A natural athlete who completed his first marathon at the age of 16, he had plans to join the cycling team when he returned to the University of California at Berkeley for his sophomore year.

And on a road not far from his home near Santa Maria, California, Eric was killed when a teen driver traveling at 60 miles per hour struck his bike with her truck. 

The driver's cell phone records indicated that she was texting just prior to the crash.

The sudden loss of their son was unimaginable to Bob and Eilene Okerblom. And they share their story in the latest installment of our "Faces of Distracted Driving" series.

"My message is as personal as it gets," Eilene Okerblom says.  "My son is dead because a driver was not focused on the road.  It didn't have to happen."

Since losing their son, Eilene and Bob have channeled their grief into action.  The family started the Eric Okerblom Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing distracted driving. They've lobbied for tougher laws and penalties for drivers found to be using cell phones in California.  And Bob is spreading the word on the road, cycling cross-country to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and cell phone use behind the wheel.

Their message to drivers everywhere is simple:

“Distraction while driving is a willful decision, and it is wrong. We all have a responsibility, to ourselves and to each other, when we get behind the wheel.  Our son is gone, but we will be his voice.”

If you have a distracted driving experience you'd like to share, post a video on YouTube and email a link to faces@distraction.gov.

Comments

[Debbie Reardan]

I am grateful to DOT and the Faces of Distracted Driving series you continue to post. After reading and watching these videos my daughter (9 yrs old) and I have vowed to never pick up my cell phone while driving. These videos devastated me - the loss of the individual and the pain these families and friends are experiencing should never have happened. I have lost friends to drunk drivers and vowed to never drink and drive. Thanks to you I see more clearly the importance of not using a cell phone while driving. Thank you! It truly is easy now to not even touch it while driving. No phone call is that important - ever. My thoughts are with these families.

[Vince]

I don't agree with a lot of "laws" but I must say please don't text while driving! I think the fines should actually be higher with this law. People get killed because you can't wait to update facebook? Really?

[Cyclist Jerseys Todd]

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Eric. Recently, in our city a bicyclist was killed by a car that went off the road, jumped an enbankment and landed on the bike path. I don't know if the motorist was distracted, drunk or what, but it just doesn't seem like a mechanical malfunction could have caused such an incident.
I think that the penalty for distracted driving does need to be higher. It's been proven to be more dangerous than drunk driving.

[ray ban]

People get killed because you can't wait to update facebook? Really?thanks

[MCSE training online]

This is the big tragedy for Eilene and Bob. But dont worry Eilene and Bob we and our sympathies are always with you.

[Plastic Paterson]

What happened to the texting teen ?

Was she charged for this reckless behavior ?

There must be consecuences.

[pandora jewellery]

I don't know if the motorist was distracted, drunk or what, but it just doesn't seem like a mechanical malfunction could have caused such an incident.thanks.

[AnneHallam]

I am so sorry for your loss Bob and Eilene Okerblom. I'm asking angels to wrap their wings around you and your family to help you with your journey of loss & grieving and also to the family & girl who caused this horrific accident. Bob cycling across state in memory of your son - I hope the pain of loosing him will soften with time. [If you are having a hard time of it - with coping with the loss of your son - perhaps this man who teaches eft - emotional freedom technique may be able to help. www.fastereft.com may help.]