The Good Family
About the Good Family
Jean and Jay Good lived in Lititz, PA. with their children Jared and Jacy. Jay worked as a Diesel Mechanic at Colonial Metals in Columbia, PA and was a 1968 graduate of Garden Spot High School. Jean was an 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher at the Ephrata Middle School. She graduated from Ephrata High School in 1968 and from Millersville University in 1972.
Jacy was finishing up her senior year at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. It was where she had met her longtime boyfriend, Steve Johnson, the very day they moved into their dorm freshman year. Jacy, who was a dual major in German and international studies, graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She planned to work for Habitat for Humanity in New York City through the AmeriCorps program. Steve and Jacy were looking forward to beginning both their careers and lives together after graduation.
Crash Description
On May 18, 2008, the Good Family was gathered at Muhlenberg College to watch Jacy graduate. Jared had taken his own car and he headed home ahead of Jacy and her parents who were packing up her things. They were about halfway home when their car was struck head-on by a milk truck as both entered an intersection with green lights. The truck had swerved to try to avoid a minivan, which had entered the truck's path because the driver was distracted from talking on his cell phone. The truck hit the minivan and then slammed head-on into the Goods' car. Jay and Jean were killed instantly. Jacy was critically injured.
Life After the Crash
Jacy underwent nearly 9 hours of surgery and was given only a 10% chance of surviving. She spent months in the hospital, followed by rehabilitation. Steve remained by her side through it all. She had to relearn to walk and talk. With the aid of numerous titanium rods, plates, and screws that were placed throughout her body, she managed to heal over time. However, due the traumatic brain injury she suffered in the crash, she is unable to use her left arm or lower leg and has minor lingering cognitive issues.
Jacy began advocating for banning use of cell phones while driving in her home state of Pennsylvania less than a year after her family’s devasting crash. Her tireless efforts gained her national recognition, including appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, a guest at a United Nations meeting, and countless interviews and appearances. She also filmed a PSA through AT&T’s ‘It Can Wait’ campaign which went viral and has combined views on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook of more than 300 million.
Jacy and Steve realized the importance of sharing their story and journey to recovery with the public and founded their organization, Hang Up and Drive. The name was inspired by a bumper sticker that Jacy’s Dad, Jay, had on his car long before most people were aware of the dangers of distracted driving. Jacy and Steve’s desire to impact change and save lives has since taken them to over 1,000 events across the world. They encourage people to make safer choices, companies to develop and enforce cell phone policies, and legislators to put in place the necessary laws to protect the public.
On October 12, 2013, after more than nine years as a couple, Jacy and Steve got married. As Jacy and Steve continue to heal from their tragedy, they share their story and spread their message to prevent distracted driving and save lives.
Memorial