Florida NEXT: Click for Katie

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Last year I interviewed a grief-stricken family and group of friends who had suffered a devastating loss. She was their daughter, granddaughter, sister and friend. Katlyn “Katie” Marie Marchetti died in the early morning hours of March 4, 2006, due to injuries she received in a car accident. She wasn’t wearing her seat belt.

Katie, then 16, and her boyfriend A.J. Lamantia, 19, were driving home to Valrico from Sarasota. A.J. was driving Katie’s car. Katie unbuckled her seat belt and reclined her seat to rest. All it tookwas a second. A.J. dozed off. The car hit a guard rail on Interstate75 and then a concrete wall, projecting Katie out of the car and into traffic, where she was hit by another car.

Officials say that Katie would most likely be alive today if she had worn her seat belt. And now her family and friends want to make sure more people wear their seat belt. Katie’s family founded the Katie Marchetti Memorial Foundation to bring hope to those who have had similar losses and raise awareness to all about the necessity of seat belt usage.They invited me to serve on their advisory board along with other professionals in the community and friends of Katie’s, including her pediatrician, Dr. Nancy Silva. Together we are trying to get more people to buckle up each and every time they drive or ride in a vehicle.

Sadly, Katie’s story is not uncommon. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15- to 20-year-olds. And teens have the lowest seat beltuse rate of all drivers.

Sure, if you’re not used to wearing your seat belt, you may feel that it’s a little uncomfortable. But you know what’s really uncomfortable? The thought of losing your life, leaving behind family and friends and missing out on great things in your future. Please wear your seat belt, and make sure anyone who rides with you wears one, too.

You can read more about Katie at KatiesStory.com and get more info about safe driving at KeepTheDrive.com.

Your friend,
Ashley

http://www.floridanext.com/welcome/article_view.asp?id=526

–Ashley Cisneros
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Ashley Cisneros is a co-founder of Chatter Buzz Media, an Orlando Internet marketing firm that helps companies and organizations engage with their target markets through inbound marketing via the Internet. Chatter Buzz Media, which won the Social Madness competition for the Orlando small business market, is a full-service digital marketing firm specializing in website design, search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing and content creation. Prior to founding Chatter Buzz, Ashley worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, technical writer, marketing manager, public relations practitioner and freelance journalist. To see Ashley’s content writing, visit www.ashleycisneros.com. You can also reach Ashley on her Google profile.

By | 2017-04-28T07:32:41+00:00 December 21st, 2008|Categories: Blog, Samples|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

About the Author:

Ashley Cisneros Mejia is a journalist, entrepreneur and marketer. She began her career as a newspaper reporter and later as an editor at Florida Trend business magazine. Ashley has worked as a professional freelance writer since 2009, as a technical writer, marketing manager, and public relations practitioner. She also founded two digital marketing agencies in Orlando. Named one of Orlando’s 40 Under 40 and honored by the Women’s Executive Council of Orlando for achievements in media and communications, Ashley earned a B.S. in Journalism and an M.S. in Entrepreneurship at the University of Florida.

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