teenage tragedy

[deere755]

My son just learned late last night that 3 of his classmates were in a car wreck and one was killed. All 3 were 16 year old girls. It was a real shock to him and it sends cold chills down my spine. I can't imagine finding out you just lost a child. My prayers are with the family right now. We always take it for granted that when they leave everything will be ok and we will see them when they get home.

 

[Bird]

I can't imagine finding out you just lost a child.

Yes, that's something most of us have been fortunate enough to not experience. It would be hard to imagine anything much worse.

 

[jinman]

A similar thing happened here about three weeks ago with two young teenage girls coming home on a 2-lane road. A pickup truck crossed over the center line and sideswiped a car and then lost control and came back across the line to hit the girls' car head-on. The girls were doing nothing wrong whatsoever and became the victims of a tragic accident. To their parents and relatives, everyone gave an outpouring of sympathy because of the senseless loss of life in such a hopelessly uncontrolled manner. For some things there is no reason, only grief and a sense of horrible loss. May God bless the parents and all who mourn the loss of your son's young friend.

 

[flyingcow]

makes me a little short of breath. I have a son 16yrs old, daughters 15 and 12 yrs old. WOW....

 

[ultrarunner]

After a rash of similar stories a few years ago, the law was changed in CA forbiding minors to drive other minors in most cases.

V C Section 12814.6 Provisional License for Minors Distinctive Driver s License

I wouldn't have been able to take that road trip to Canada at age 16 with 2 other high school friends had the law been in effect then... we had the trip of a lifetime and the time to enjoy it.

 

[Bird]

In Texas, drivers under 17 may not transport more than one passenger under the age of 21 unless it's a family member.

TxDPS - Graduated Driver License Program

 

[deere755]

I believe the law here is anyone under 18 can not have more then 1 passenger, it may be 17 but I am pretty sure it is 18. I went out on a roll over accident a few years back and the car was full of teens and I know the driver was ticketed for having more then 1 passenger

Here is a link to the story about the crash.

16-year-old from Mattoon dies in accident

 

[Taylortractornut]

I drove all over the country as a kid15 and on. Iwas a little more mature than other teens Hut its different today. Kids dont usually buy their cars or pay for repairs nowadays. A few ears ago when I was a kid I took care of my car and kept alert as I didnt want to have an accident and ruin my ride. Cell phones werent around either. I was at the light one time in my dump truck and girl was in the turn lane waiting for the light. Her passenger and her bother had thier gourds looking straight down texting away.



I had t oeas up a bit to let a car beind me get into the lane behind me. When I did the driver floored her little car still looking down and ran into the side of a pickup. She nevcer did stop texting. When I go out on wrecker calles with a friends towing service the first thing he usually finds at a teenagers wreck is a dialed or in use cell phone in the wreck.

I hate it for the girl and her family and friends We lost 2 students when I was in highscool both needless accidents. One was reaching in the floor for her CD she dropped and one was driving too fast on a little road. Its tough to deal with.

 

[NuBota]

This is always a tragedy - both of my oldest kids lost friends in high school - I can't imagine the pain the parents went through.

Maryland has the graduated license program which is a good thing. I believe they have to be "clean" for 18 months before they can drive with other minor passengers (except siblings).

Both of my boys had to drive my 95 F350 quad cab, long bed - bright red - for the first two years. With 250K miles, it lost some pep so racing wasn't an option. Lots of steel around them and they were forced to go easy in that big beast. I did worry about them hitting someone else - but both had no issues. Plus every neighbor, friend (including a couple LEOs), teacher/coach, and acquaintance we had knew the truck - and the boys knew it!

 

[DanD78]

My daughter would get mad as **** at me because I would not let here ride with her friends. This is exactly why. Her first ride was a Chevy truck with a Manual transmission and no radio. Her other option was to walk or ride the school bus. I had her driving with me from 10 years old and knew her abilities before she was turned loose. I didn't leave it up to the drivers ed teacher.

Around here school age driving deaths seem to happen about every 3 or 4 years. Long enough for kids to forget and not learn form the others who died.

Dan