Teen was on Facebook before deadly crash in Clinton Township

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Sean Verfaille was a hard-working kid who paid for his own car and his first year of college at Macomb Community College.

The 17-year-old was coming home from work Saturday and posting to Facebook as he drove.

At 1:46 p.m. he posted that he still had to go back for the night shift. At 1:50 p.m. he posted, "Truth is .. will do all." His brother said Sean sent a private message at 1:52 p.m. and then at 1:53 p.m. there was a 911 call reporting the crash on Metro Parkway.

His family knows Sean made a mistake so many others make, but Sean paid for it with his life. Now they want everyone to know about it. They're sharing on social media, even using a picture of Sean with his phone at his funeral on Friday. It's painful for them, but worth it if it saves a life.

The family also donated his wrecked Jeep to Lakeshore High School in St. Clair Shores where Sean graduated in June. The school will use the Jeep as a reminder of the dangers of texting and driving.

Sean would have been 18 next Thursday.


About the Author

Jason is Local 4’s utility infielder. In addition to anchoring the morning newscast, he often reports on a variety of stories from the tragic, like the shootings at Michigan State, to the off-beat, like great gas station food.

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