Like most mothers of teenage girls, Linda Mulkey warned her daughter about the dangers out there in the world.

She never imagined the one that would take her daughter's life.

Two Salt Lake City police officers came to Mulkey's door early March 18 to tell her that her 17-year-old daughter, Lauren, had been killed in a "cell phone-related accident."

"You never think when your daughter leaves ... you never think someone will be holding a cell phone and kill," Linda Mulkey said. "Of all the worries any parent would have, that was not one."

Lauren Mulkey was killed when a 19-year-old driver, who authorities say was speeding while trying to look for a friend's number on his cell phone, ran a light at 2100 South and 1300 East.

Late Tuesday, a warrant against the driver was issued in 3rd District Court for "causing death through negligent driving while having a controlled substance in one's body," a third-degree felony. Prosecutors believe the driver had marijuana in his system.

Mulkey said Tuesday that there needs to be accountability for her daughter's death.

"I don't want his life to be ruined. But there does have to be consequences," she said. "My life will never be the same."

Mulkey believes there were a number of factors that contributed to the crash, distracted driving being one of them.

Since that accident, Mulkey started to notice just how many drivers use their cell phones, pagers or Blackberries while they drive, eat or do another activity. Mulkey said she immediately started making changes in her own driving habits.

"I haven't picked up a cell phone (while driving) since the accident and never will," she said.

All of Lauren's many friends have followed suit and no longer talk on the phone and drive at the same time, Linda Mulkey said.

Now Mulkey hopes her daughter's story and her face will encourage other drivers to hang up the phone.

Mulkey began researching how much it would cost to put up a billboard with her daughter's picture to remind people not to drive distracted. Once Reagan Outdoor Advertising found out what Mulkey was doing, they donated two billboards for free.

One billboard is now set up across from Lauren's alma mater, East High School, portraying the girl with the blond hair and pretty face as a tragic reminder of distracted driving.

The issue is receiving increased attention in many states.

Legislation has been proposed in at least three states to ban text messaging while driving. In May, Washington became the first state to completely ban texting while driving. Three states and the District of Columbia have placed bans on hand-held cell phones while similar laws will take effect in two other states next year.