Fayetteville mother hopes son's tragic death teaches a lesson
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Lisa Heath hopes others can learn from her son's death.
"If one teenager is OK because of what happened to Brian, she said, "then Brian did something positive. He did positive things in his life, and he can do something positive in his death."
Brian Widhalm, 17, died Nov. 7, in a one car crash on Elliot Farm Road, which is north of Fayetteville. State troopers say it appeared the teen took a curve too fast and lost control.
Not knowing her son had crashed, Lisa Heath pulled up to the scene and realized it was her son.
"I came upon the accident about 10 minutes after it happened, and saw at the time it was my son's car wrapped around a tree," she said.
Heath said her son knew how to be responsible. She thinks her son may have been distracted by the radio, or was trying to change a CD or had dropped something and was trying to retrieve it. She still visits the accident site almost every day.
Heath said she and her son were very close.
"He left this world knowing how much I really loved him, and I know how much he loved me," said she said.
She posted her thoughts on Facebook -- pleading with youthful drivers and their parents to obey speed limits and highway warning signs, and to pay attention while behind the wheel. She was overwhelmed by the dozens of responses from people around the country about sharing her story.
Heath hopes it's a message that young and old drivers take to heart.
"Pay attention to the speed limit, warning signs, and don't think you are Indestructible, because it can happen to you," she said.
Heath is thinking about asking school officials if she can talk with students about staying safe behind the wheel.
If you would like to contact Heath, check out her Facebook page.
