Demetrius Branca has the determination to change the world and has a plan to do just that.
In November 2014, his 19-year old son, Anthony Branca, was riding his motorcycle from work to Tallahassee Community College when he was rear-ended by a van and killed.
The person who was driving the van, according to eye-witnesses and available evidence, wasn’t paying attention to the road.
Since his son’s death, Demetrius Branca has started the Anthony Phoenix Branca Foundation to educate the public on the dangers of distracted driving.
“Losing Anthony is one of the most devastating things that could happen to me, my family, and in my opinion, the community,” said Branca. “We wanted to take this tragedy and turn it around into something positive.”
(Photo courtesy of Demetrius Branca)
The APB was founded a few weeks after Anthony’s death when his father realized that, although it is the most painful experience to have happened to him, the world needed to know Anthony Branca’s story and start combating distracted driving.
“I realized that I don’t have a choice. This is not someone else’s battle, this is mine. I plan on waging it and I plan on winning it,” said Branca.
Melissa Valido, the official secretary of the APB Foundation, feels that Branca and the APB will greatly impact Florida driving laws.
“Demetrius is incredibly strong and highly motivated. He works tirelessly to ensure the message is impactful and meaningful to his audience,” said Valido.
The APB gives presentations at local schools and civic groups featuring Anthony’s story, as presented by his father, and the APB’s revolution to end distracted driving.
The Foundation has also teamed up with other organizations such as Donate Life Florida and the Text Ninja App in order to help educate the public on the importance of organ donation and the dangers of distracted driving.
“Our mission is to end distracted driving through education and changes in our laws so that no other family has to suffer through the loss of their loved one,” said Valido.
“I would make [distracted driving] a primary offense and I would increase the fines and punishment for driving distracted,” said Branca.
Currently, in the state of Florida, driving distracted is considered “careless driving”, which comes with a maximum of one year’s suspended license and a $1,200 dollar fine.
The driver of the van that killed Anthony Branca received a six-month license suspension and an $1,100 dollar fine.
“My advice to a driver is the same advice I would give to anybody: pay attention,” said Branca. “When you’re driving, getting to your destination safely is your focus, so what should you be doing to get to your destination safely? Avoid distractions. How do you avoid distractions? By whatever means you need to.”
