On Oct. 23 at 7 a.m., as I was stopped at a red light on Sabattus Street in Lewiston, my car was slammed from behind by a reckless and distracted driver.

I would like to thank the many good Samaritans who stopped to help, especially the off-duty paramedic who parked his truck in front of my car as a warning to oncoming traffic and who was the first person to check on me. Thanks also to the police, firemen and ambulance crew. Miraculously, no one was seriously hurt.

This is a plea to all drivers to please understand that driving is a serious responsibility. When driving, keep your eyes on the road, not on your cell phone, your passengers, makeup mirror, etc. And, for heaven’s sake, do not drive when impaired.

In a split second, you could change your life or someone else’s life forever.

Kathleen Jacques, Lewiston