SALINAS, Calif.- "I lost my son because of a text message," said David Balch.
August 9th, 2009. It was a Sunday evening when four year old Sebastian Balch riding in the backseat of his mother's car, was almost home. They were so close, just up the road.
But something happened.
The driver behind Christa Balch made a fatal decision. One you've probably made without even thinking about it.
"She was stopped at this light right here...and Dion Gussner is driving behind her and was text messaging. When he put the phone down and looked up my wife's car was right in front of him. He tried to swerve, couldn't swerve all the way and hit the corner of the car which was the corner of the car my son was sitting in," said Balch.
Sebastian was dead and Christa was severely injured. Dion Gussner was driving drunk that night but told investigators the main cause of the accident was because he was texting.
Now, he is serving 16 years in a maximum security prison.
"My family will never be the same, Dion's family will never be the same, because of a text message."
I interviewed the Balchs' on the first anniversary of Sebastian's death, working on a mural to commemorate his short life. A memorial was placed at the accident site. Now, it's an annual tradition on Sebastian's birthday.
Everyday that David and Christa Balch pass through the intersection going to or coming from home. They relive their son's death all because of a text message.
And looking at the spray paint lines still somewhat visible from the accident three years later, is a daily ritual for David Balch.
'Everyday I get a special time, it forces me to remember but I'm grateful for that."
He hopes Sebastian forces you to think twice as well, "You know what, there's nothing in this Facebook update that is as important as the car I might hit, as is important as my passenger, as is important as me."
"Remember it's not a text message, it is a life and for me it was my four year old son."
