Saturday, September 26, 2009
NEVADA: One teen died and two others are in serious condition after the driver lost control of the car while he was racing and doing donuts. The car slammed into a wall. The 16-year-old driver was killed on impact. His name was not released as of the initial report; I will catch up with this story as I fill in details. Initial story is here, with a sadly comical quote from a friend calling the unnamed driver a "fool."
Friday, September 25, 2009
CALIFORNIA: A 17-year-old football player died just two days before his 18th birthday as he sped away from a football his team had just won. Police say Michael Pyper, of Rancho Buena Vista near San Diego, lost control of the car, rolling it. It hit several trees, and Michael was thrown from the car. He was not wearing a seatbelt. Lots of sad stories out there on this one, including this report.
ILLINOIS: A 16-year-old driver died after he crashed into a large SUV. Jerry Martinez, 17, of Elgin, died shortly after the crash. Story can be found here.
MISSOURI: This story says 17-year-old Tyler Fratzke died after the car he was a passenger in collided with another vehicle at an intersection.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
ALABAMA: Amy Leann Sharp of New Market died in a one-car crash when the vehicle she was driving veered off the road, hit a utility pole and snapped it in half. Sharp was 19 years old. Police say she wasn't wearing a seatbelt, and died at the scene. Story can be found here.
TENNESSEE: Shane Hendrix, 17, died on his way home from a homecoming rally. He was driving when the car skidded, hit a mailbox and a fence, and flipped. His two passengers were thrown from the car, but survived.
Tuesday
Monday
Old accident, new charges
ALABAMA: Police this week charged a 16-year-old boy with two counts of manslaughter after an Aug. 22 accident left a pregnant woman dead. David James Mears was charged by Madison police weeks after the accident. David was driving through an intersection when he t-boned the pregnant woman's car. Cynthia Sandefur, 19, and her unborn child died in the wreck. Police are using a law called the Brody Bill that allows for a second criminal charge when a pregnant woman is murdered or killed. More details can be found here.
Waiting for more details ...
MASSACHUSETTS: I have been waiting for more details on this case, but nothing clear has emerged yet. A 15-year-old girl died in Marblehead, Mass., this summer when she was crossing the street. I've been watching it to see how old the driver is, and he has yet to be charged. But this story from the Salem News says the boy had only been driving for a few months, and already had several speeding tickets and a three-month suspension.
The family of the girl, Allie Castner, is distraught, naturally. The accident happened Aug. 24.
UPDATE: The state has finally revoked the license of the 19-year-old driver, Thomas Larivee. Story is here Larivee's eventful driving record is here.
Allie has officially been added to our tally of deaths caused by teen drivers.
ALABAMA: Police this week charged a 16-year-old boy with two counts of manslaughter after an Aug. 22 accident left a pregnant woman dead. David James Mears was charged by Madison police weeks after the accident. David was driving through an intersection when he t-boned the pregnant woman's car. Cynthia Sandefur, 19, and her unborn child died in the wreck. Police are using a law called the Brody Bill that allows for a second criminal charge when a pregnant woman is murdered or killed. More details can be found here.
Waiting for more details ...
MASSACHUSETTS: I have been waiting for more details on this case, but nothing clear has emerged yet. A 15-year-old girl died in Marblehead, Mass., this summer when she was crossing the street. I've been watching it to see how old the driver is, and he has yet to be charged. But this story from the Salem News says the boy had only been driving for a few months, and already had several speeding tickets and a three-month suspension.
The family of the girl, Allie Castner, is distraught, naturally. The accident happened Aug. 24.
UPDATE: The state has finally revoked the license of the 19-year-old driver, Thomas Larivee. Story is here Larivee's eventful driving record is here.
Allie has officially been added to our tally of deaths caused by teen drivers.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
ARIZONA: Two brothers died after the one of them drove into the side of a schoolbus near Phoenix. The car was going more than 90 mph before 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. 17-year-old Elmin Morina died at the scene. His brother, 16-year-old Eldin Morina, was pronounced dead later at the hospital. The bus driver, who was the only person on the school bus at the time of the crash, appears to be fine. A picture here shows the car jammed under the side of the bus.
IDAHO: Another school bus accident: 17-year-old Shawn Heckathorn was driving along Indiana Avenue in Caldwell, when he crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a bus, filled with children, head on. He was pronounced dead at the scene. More details are here.
MINNESOTA: A 14-year-old died after the car he was riding in crashed into another car at an intersection. The car, driven by a 17-year-old, rolled and caught fire, according to this story in the Waseca County News. Jacob Gleason, 14, died, and the driver, 17-year-old CJ Shakal, was airlifted to the hospital and was listed in serious condition following the crash. The driver of the other car was also taken to the hospital.
ARIZONA: Two brothers died after the one of them drove into the side of a schoolbus near Phoenix. The car was going more than 90 mph before 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. 17-year-old Elmin Morina died at the scene. His brother, 16-year-old Eldin Morina, was pronounced dead later at the hospital. The bus driver, who was the only person on the school bus at the time of the crash, appears to be fine. A picture here shows the car jammed under the side of the bus.
IDAHO: Another school bus accident: 17-year-old Shawn Heckathorn was driving along Indiana Avenue in Caldwell, when he crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a bus, filled with children, head on. He was pronounced dead at the scene. More details are here.
MINNESOTA: A 14-year-old died after the car he was riding in crashed into another car at an intersection. The car, driven by a 17-year-old, rolled and caught fire, according to this story in the Waseca County News. Jacob Gleason, 14, died, and the driver, 17-year-old CJ Shakal, was airlifted to the hospital and was listed in serious condition following the crash. The driver of the other car was also taken to the hospital.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
PENNSYLVANIA: 18-year-old Megan Mills died in a one-car crash after she ran her car into a tree. Witnesses told police the car was going around 45 to 55 mph before it ran off the road, and no one saw the car attempt to brake. The accident happened after 4 a.m.
FLORIDA: A pregnant woman was ejected from the back of a pickup truck when the teen driver of the truck made an illegal left turn, colliding with another pickup truck. Virginia Nicole Liming, 19, of Jacksonville, was the pregnant woman who died in the crash. Six other people, including 19-year-old Michael Ackerman, were in the pickup truck. A one-year-old and a 30-year-old were seriously hurt. The passengers and driver in the other car were uninjured.
PENNSYLVANIA: 18-year-old Megan Mills died in a one-car crash after she ran her car into a tree. Witnesses told police the car was going around 45 to 55 mph before it ran off the road, and no one saw the car attempt to brake. The accident happened after 4 a.m.
FLORIDA: A pregnant woman was ejected from the back of a pickup truck when the teen driver of the truck made an illegal left turn, colliding with another pickup truck. Virginia Nicole Liming, 19, of Jacksonville, was the pregnant woman who died in the crash. Six other people, including 19-year-old Michael Ackerman, were in the pickup truck. A one-year-old and a 30-year-old were seriously hurt. The passengers and driver in the other car were uninjured.
Monday, September 21, 2009
NEW JERSEY: 19-year-old Laura Neilio of Pittsgrove died in a one-vehicle accident after she drove off the road and into a tree. She was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Police aren't sure if she was wearing a seatbelt, or why she drove off the road.
NEW JERSEY: 19-year-old Laura Neilio of Pittsgrove died in a one-vehicle accident after she drove off the road and into a tree. She was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Police aren't sure if she was wearing a seatbelt, or why she drove off the road.
Tuesday
Fatality map
Here is a rough copy of a map I'm developing to track monthly fatalities caused by teen drivers. This is preliminary data collected from August 22, 2009 to September 21, 2009. I am still playing with the program that develops the maps, and it's kind of messy at this point, so if anyone knows of a better mapping program, please let me know.
Each flag on this map came from a major news story in a local area. Each town marked on this map has grieving parents, friends, and teachers who may justify what happened as an "accident." But there are those of us who study these things who know the vast majority of these accidents were preventable. Figuring out how to prevent them is the key.
Monday
Coming soon:
Tomorrow will be one month since this project began. I plan to put together some analysis of the crashes, including a map of the states/towns where they occurred. But it takes a few days for accidents to filter through Google, so I may not be able to get the analysis up on the site until Friday.
We passed the 100 fatality mark this morning, and there are still a few weekend crashes to input. Even with that number, I know I am missing a lot of crashes. One came through this morning that happened at the end of August, so there tends to be a lag sometimes on Google and Nexis. And there are places in the country that still don't have an online newspaper or local TV station covering the crashes. I hope to start working with an insurance company soon to get more complete data.
Tomorrow will be one month since this project began. I plan to put together some analysis of the crashes, including a map of the states/towns where they occurred. But it takes a few days for accidents to filter through Google, so I may not be able to get the analysis up on the site until Friday.
We passed the 100 fatality mark this morning, and there are still a few weekend crashes to input. Even with that number, I know I am missing a lot of crashes. One came through this morning that happened at the end of August, so there tends to be a lag sometimes on Google and Nexis. And there are places in the country that still don't have an online newspaper or local TV station covering the crashes. I hope to start working with an insurance company soon to get more complete data.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
IOWA: An 18-year-old died in a one-vehicle accident that left him partially ejected from the car. Colin Lingenfelter, 18, was a passenger in the car when it ran off the road, hit a ditch, hit a driveway, and became airborne. The car landed on the driver's side and rolled several times. The driver, 19-year-old Scott Bleything, and another passenger, Julian Holmes, 19, were injured. Lingenfelter died at the scene of the crash.
IDAHO: An 18-year-old died Sunday afternoon when he lost control of his car, rolling it. The Idaho Press-Tribune reports that Brycen Blackburn died after he swerved several times across the road, flipped, and landed on the roof of his car in the median. The accident is under investigation.
UPDATE: Police say Brycen's blood alcohol level was above legal limits at the time of the crash. Story here.
NEW YORK: Nineteen-year-old Michael Capone of Holmes, N.Y., died in a one-car crash after he lost control of the speeding car. The car left the road, hit a pole, spun, and then wrapped around a tree. The Mid-Hudson News reports that it appears speeding was the only factor in the crash.
IOWA: An 18-year-old died in a one-vehicle accident that left him partially ejected from the car. Colin Lingenfelter, 18, was a passenger in the car when it ran off the road, hit a ditch, hit a driveway, and became airborne. The car landed on the driver's side and rolled several times. The driver, 19-year-old Scott Bleything, and another passenger, Julian Holmes, 19, were injured. Lingenfelter died at the scene of the crash.
IDAHO: An 18-year-old died Sunday afternoon when he lost control of his car, rolling it. The Idaho Press-Tribune reports that Brycen Blackburn died after he swerved several times across the road, flipped, and landed on the roof of his car in the median. The accident is under investigation.
UPDATE: Police say Brycen's blood alcohol level was above legal limits at the time of the crash. Story here.
NEW YORK: Nineteen-year-old Michael Capone of Holmes, N.Y., died in a one-car crash after he lost control of the speeding car. The car left the road, hit a pole, spun, and then wrapped around a tree. The Mid-Hudson News reports that it appears speeding was the only factor in the crash.
Friday, September 18, 2009
MISSOURI: A 17-year-old girl died while trying to make a left-hand turn Friday evening. Andrea White, of Houston, Mo., drove her 2001 PT Cruiser onto the highway to make a left turn and was broadsided by a 2004 Dodge pickup driven by 20-year-old Anthony Carnal. A passenger in Andrea's car, Lyndsey Tarrants, 17, was taken to the hospital for moderate injuries. Andrea and Lyndsey were not wearing seatbelts.
MISSISSIPPI: A 16-year-old died in a one-car accident just before 10 p.m. Police say William Driebergen, 16, veered into the other lane and off the road. The car flipped, and hit a tree. The accident is under investigation.
MISSOURI: A 17-year-old girl died while trying to make a left-hand turn Friday evening. Andrea White, of Houston, Mo., drove her 2001 PT Cruiser onto the highway to make a left turn and was broadsided by a 2004 Dodge pickup driven by 20-year-old Anthony Carnal. A passenger in Andrea's car, Lyndsey Tarrants, 17, was taken to the hospital for moderate injuries. Andrea and Lyndsey were not wearing seatbelts.
MISSISSIPPI: A 16-year-old died in a one-car accident just before 10 p.m. Police say William Driebergen, 16, veered into the other lane and off the road. The car flipped, and hit a tree. The accident is under investigation.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
MINNESOTA: A new mom was struck and killed by a teen driver as she walked with her baby along a road in Oakdale. Stacey Jane Morgan, 33, was out for some exercise with her three-month-old daughter, Zoe, when an unnamed driver struck her from behind. The baby was ejected from the strolled but remained in her carseat, and she was unharmed. Morgan suffered head injuries and died later at the hospital. Police are investigating the crash. There is a story here in the Star-Tribune.
VERMONT: A 15-year-old boy died as a passenger in a car driven by a teenager who swerved across the road and ran down an embankment and into a tree. Joshua Fratus, 15, of Danby, died in the crash. Kristen Shortt, 17, was driving northbound on the road when she swerved across the southbound lanes and into the embankment. Joshua died at the scene, and Kristen was taken to the hospital.
IDAHO: A 16-year-old boy was charged with leaving the scene of a crash and misdemeanor manslaughter after a passenger in his car drowned when the car flipped into a canal. Alejandro Medina-Alvarez, 23, drowned in an irrigation canal after the car flipped and landed in the water, according to this story in the Idaho Statesman. Police have not identified the driver.
TEXAS: Moments after 19-year-old Rachel Ratcliff died in a collision with an 18-wheeler, her mother came upon the accident as she drove down the road. The story in the Beaumont Enterprise doesn't go into much detail about the cause of the accident, but has some lovely memorial information on Rachel.
MINNESOTA: A new mom was struck and killed by a teen driver as she walked with her baby along a road in Oakdale. Stacey Jane Morgan, 33, was out for some exercise with her three-month-old daughter, Zoe, when an unnamed driver struck her from behind. The baby was ejected from the strolled but remained in her carseat, and she was unharmed. Morgan suffered head injuries and died later at the hospital. Police are investigating the crash. There is a story here in the Star-Tribune.
VERMONT: A 15-year-old boy died as a passenger in a car driven by a teenager who swerved across the road and ran down an embankment and into a tree. Joshua Fratus, 15, of Danby, died in the crash. Kristen Shortt, 17, was driving northbound on the road when she swerved across the southbound lanes and into the embankment. Joshua died at the scene, and Kristen was taken to the hospital.
IDAHO: A 16-year-old boy was charged with leaving the scene of a crash and misdemeanor manslaughter after a passenger in his car drowned when the car flipped into a canal. Alejandro Medina-Alvarez, 23, drowned in an irrigation canal after the car flipped and landed in the water, according to this story in the Idaho Statesman. Police have not identified the driver.
TEXAS: Moments after 19-year-old Rachel Ratcliff died in a collision with an 18-wheeler, her mother came upon the accident as she drove down the road. The story in the Beaumont Enterprise doesn't go into much detail about the cause of the accident, but has some lovely memorial information on Rachel.
Thursday
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
OHIO: A local radio station reported that investigators are trying to piece together details of a crash that left 18-year-old Justice Johnson of Miami Township dead. Justice was driving an SUV southbound on I-675 when he lost control of the vehicle. The SUV veered off the left side of the road into the median and flipped several times. Justice was pronounced dead at the scene.
MICHIGAN: Before school Wednesday, a teen driver rammed into the back of a truck towing a backhoe, killing passenger Ja'Lisa Longoria, 18. Teen driver Elvis Peacock may have been speeding, and morning glare may have added to the crash. The Morning Sun newspaper says Ja'Lisa was a member of the school track, basketball and volleyball teams.
OHIO: A local radio station reported that investigators are trying to piece together details of a crash that left 18-year-old Justice Johnson of Miami Township dead. Justice was driving an SUV southbound on I-675 when he lost control of the vehicle. The SUV veered off the left side of the road into the median and flipped several times. Justice was pronounced dead at the scene.
MICHIGAN: Before school Wednesday, a teen driver rammed into the back of a truck towing a backhoe, killing passenger Ja'Lisa Longoria, 18. Teen driver Elvis Peacock may have been speeding, and morning glare may have added to the crash. The Morning Sun newspaper says Ja'Lisa was a member of the school track, basketball and volleyball teams.
Wednesday
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
TENNESSEE: A 14-year-old girl died Tuesday after the car she was in hit a curb, flipped, and then hit two cars. Meredith A. Fox, 14, was in the front passenger seat when the crash occurred, and was declared dead at the scene, according to this report in the Commercial Appeal. Driver Philip Winston Miller, 17, was in stable condition Wednesday, and 13-year-old passenger Rachell Hyneman was in critical condition. Occupants in the two cars struck by Phillip's car were also in stable condition.
I believe this video was done for Meredith by a friend.
UPDATE: A story here says Winston was driving with a restricted license, and should not have had so many passengers in his car. There is video from the crash, and interviews with friends. Quote from the end of the piece: "Once you get more than one teenager in the car, the crash rate almost doubles."
FLORIDA: This is a hard crash to decipher from the news report. It appears a teenager driving a minivan crashed into a car making a left-hand turn. Three people died, including a young pregnant mom. Three people died in the Oldsmobile that was making the turn: Lucero Tijerno, 17, who was five months pregnant, and Layla Pinto-Tijerno, her nearly 11-month-old daughter, who were sitting in the back seat. Eduardo Lopez, 22, was a front-seat passenger. He was not wearing his seatbelt, and was pinned inside the car, and was declared dead at the scene. The Oldsmobile was driven by 21-year-old William Coe was thrown from the car, but survived.
The 18-year-old minivan driver, Claudia Aguirre-Castillo broke her leg. The other passengers in her car were fine.
TENNESSEE: A 14-year-old girl died Tuesday after the car she was in hit a curb, flipped, and then hit two cars. Meredith A. Fox, 14, was in the front passenger seat when the crash occurred, and was declared dead at the scene, according to this report in the Commercial Appeal. Driver Philip Winston Miller, 17, was in stable condition Wednesday, and 13-year-old passenger Rachell Hyneman was in critical condition. Occupants in the two cars struck by Phillip's car were also in stable condition.
I believe this video was done for Meredith by a friend.
UPDATE: A story here says Winston was driving with a restricted license, and should not have had so many passengers in his car. There is video from the crash, and interviews with friends. Quote from the end of the piece: "Once you get more than one teenager in the car, the crash rate almost doubles."
FLORIDA: This is a hard crash to decipher from the news report. It appears a teenager driving a minivan crashed into a car making a left-hand turn. Three people died, including a young pregnant mom. Three people died in the Oldsmobile that was making the turn: Lucero Tijerno, 17, who was five months pregnant, and Layla Pinto-Tijerno, her nearly 11-month-old daughter, who were sitting in the back seat. Eduardo Lopez, 22, was a front-seat passenger. He was not wearing his seatbelt, and was pinned inside the car, and was declared dead at the scene. The Oldsmobile was driven by 21-year-old William Coe was thrown from the car, but survived.
The 18-year-old minivan driver, Claudia Aguirre-Castillo broke her leg. The other passengers in her car were fine.
Monday
Monday, September 14, 2009
NORTH CAROLINA: A teen driver crossed the center line on the road Monday and crashed into an oncoming car, killing the two people in the other vehicle. Candice Jenkins, 18, was driving with her friend Philip Spicer, and they were talking and listening to music when her Ford Ranger veered into oncoming traffic. The truck struck a sedan driven by Jack Kightlinger. He and his wife, Adele, both 77, died in the crash.
A local newspaper has the story of two men who helped rescue Candice.
UPDATE: A story about the Kightlingers reveals that Jack was a photographer at the White House, serving under several presidents from President Johnson to President Reagan. Adele was a registered nurse, who, even after hearing her husband had died from the crash, asked for people in the hospital to pray for teen driver Candice Jenkins.
NORTH CAROLINA: A teen driver crossed the center line on the road Monday and crashed into an oncoming car, killing the two people in the other vehicle. Candice Jenkins, 18, was driving with her friend Philip Spicer, and they were talking and listening to music when her Ford Ranger veered into oncoming traffic. The truck struck a sedan driven by Jack Kightlinger. He and his wife, Adele, both 77, died in the crash.
A local newspaper has the story of two men who helped rescue Candice.
UPDATE: A story about the Kightlingers reveals that Jack was a photographer at the White House, serving under several presidents from President Johnson to President Reagan. Adele was a registered nurse, who, even after hearing her husband had died from the crash, asked for people in the hospital to pray for teen driver Candice Jenkins.
Sunday
Sunday, September 13, 2009
WEST VIRGINIA: Three people died following a car crash Sunday evening. A local TV station says four teens were driving in a sedan when the driver lost control, colliding with a minivan. The sedan caught fire while all four teens were still inside. Two teens -- Kylee Braham, 16, and Riley Puckett, 19, died at the scene. Brittany Waters, 16, died a few days later, police said. A fourth teen, Zach Simon, 16, is in critical condition. All six passengers in the minivan were taken to the hospital.
MICHIGAN: A teenager was thrown from a vehicle near Detroit after a high-speed pursuit with police, and later died. Police have not identified the 15-year-old Detroit resident, who was a passenger in the car. Two other teens, including the driver, were arrested after the car crashed into a stop sign, fire hydrant and tool supply store in Redmond. See the story for more details here.
SOUTH CAROLINA: A 17-year-old Myrtle Beach teen died around 3:30 a.m. after the car he was in failed to stop at a stop sign, crossed over the highway, struck a ditch, struck a tree, and then overturned several times. Patrick McNeese, 17, died at the scene of the crash. This report says another person in the car was taken to the hospital, and police are unsure who was driving the car at the time of the crash.
UPDATE: I'm sure there's a chance there could be another Patrick McNeese in the South Carolina area that surfs, but I'll take the chance that this photo is him There are more photos of Patrick surfing here.
Another update: There is a memorial story here and video of some of Patrick's surfing friends.
INDIANA: A local TV station is reporting that 18-year-old Tommy Allen died in a motorcycle/car accident after he failed to stop his bike at a stop light and ran into the side of a Volkswagen Jetta. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
PENNSYLVANIA: This is the second driving-related teen death for this part of Pennsylvania in the past couple weeks. The Leader-Vindicator reports that 18-year-old Shane Edward Horner of Brockway died around 3:15 p.m. at the scene of the crash, and two people from Canada were seriously injured. Shane veered into the shoulder and up onto someone's lawn before overcorrecting and driving across the road into oncoming traffic. He struck a minivan driven by an older Canadian man, who was taken to the hospital along with his passenger.
Friends have set up a Facebook memorial page for Shane, who seemed to love to dance.
WEST VIRGINIA: Three people died following a car crash Sunday evening. A local TV station says four teens were driving in a sedan when the driver lost control, colliding with a minivan. The sedan caught fire while all four teens were still inside. Two teens -- Kylee Braham, 16, and Riley Puckett, 19, died at the scene. Brittany Waters, 16, died a few days later, police said. A fourth teen, Zach Simon, 16, is in critical condition. All six passengers in the minivan were taken to the hospital.
MICHIGAN: A teenager was thrown from a vehicle near Detroit after a high-speed pursuit with police, and later died. Police have not identified the 15-year-old Detroit resident, who was a passenger in the car. Two other teens, including the driver, were arrested after the car crashed into a stop sign, fire hydrant and tool supply store in Redmond. See the story for more details here.
UPDATE: I'm sure there's a chance there could be another Patrick McNeese in the South Carolina area that surfs, but I'll take the chance that this photo is him There are more photos of Patrick surfing here.
Another update: There is a memorial story here and video of some of Patrick's surfing friends.
INDIANA: A local TV station is reporting that 18-year-old Tommy Allen died in a motorcycle/car accident after he failed to stop his bike at a stop light and ran into the side of a Volkswagen Jetta. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Friends have set up a Facebook memorial page for Shane, who seemed to love to dance.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
IDAHO: The Idaho Statesman reports that 18-year-old Drew Meader died at the scene of a crash in Boise early Saturday. Police say they believe the accident happened around 12:30 a.m., but it wasn't discovered until 8:30 by someone passing by. Police say Drew's pickup truck drifted off the right shoulder. He then over-corrected and slid back across the road and rolled multiple times. Drew was not wearing his seat belt, and was ejected from the truck. He landed hundreds of feet away, police say. The crash scene extended 900 to 1,000 feet from the road.
Police believe Drew was speeding, and say alcohol may have been a factor in the accident, although they won't know for sure until toxicology results are back.
INDIANA: The South Bend Tribune reports that 16-year-old Cody Reid died in a one-car accident Saturday. Cody was driving too fast over a blind hill, and didn't see two cars ahead that were going slower than he was. He had to swerve to avoid them, and ran off the road into a tree. Police say he didn't have his license for very long, and wasn't wearing his seatbelt.
WASHINGTON: An 18-year-old girl died in a one-car accident when she slammed into a utility pole in rural Thurston County. Police say they found Kayla M. Rearden of Rainier dead at the accident scene around 3 a.m. Saturday. She apparently veered off the road and slammed into the pole.
UPDATE: Comments following this story indicate Kayla was heading home from her own going-away party and may have been drinking. We'll update more on this when details become available.
OHIO: A teen was killed in an accident in Waverly when the car she was driving in as a passenger was struck by a truck as it attempted to cross a highway. The Chillicothe Gazette reports that Amber Risner, 17, died when a semi truck struck the car, driven by 17-year-old Ashley Royster. Amber was ejected from the car and declared dead at the scene of the accident. The driver and another passenger were taken to the hospital, as was the driver of the semi truck.
Here's Amber's MySpace page. She seems like a trip. There are some sad messages on her page, especially the one from her sister, who is due soon with her first baby.
IDAHO: The Idaho Statesman reports that 18-year-old Drew Meader died at the scene of a crash in Boise early Saturday. Police say they believe the accident happened around 12:30 a.m., but it wasn't discovered until 8:30 by someone passing by. Police say Drew's pickup truck drifted off the right shoulder. He then over-corrected and slid back across the road and rolled multiple times. Drew was not wearing his seat belt, and was ejected from the truck. He landed hundreds of feet away, police say. The crash scene extended 900 to 1,000 feet from the road.
Police believe Drew was speeding, and say alcohol may have been a factor in the accident, although they won't know for sure until toxicology results are back.
INDIANA: The South Bend Tribune reports that 16-year-old Cody Reid died in a one-car accident Saturday. Cody was driving too fast over a blind hill, and didn't see two cars ahead that were going slower than he was. He had to swerve to avoid them, and ran off the road into a tree. Police say he didn't have his license for very long, and wasn't wearing his seatbelt.
WASHINGTON: An 18-year-old girl died in a one-car accident when she slammed into a utility pole in rural Thurston County. Police say they found Kayla M. Rearden of Rainier dead at the accident scene around 3 a.m. Saturday. She apparently veered off the road and slammed into the pole.
UPDATE: Comments following this story indicate Kayla was heading home from her own going-away party and may have been drinking. We'll update more on this when details become available.
OHIO: A teen was killed in an accident in Waverly when the car she was driving in as a passenger was struck by a truck as it attempted to cross a highway. The Chillicothe Gazette reports that Amber Risner, 17, died when a semi truck struck the car, driven by 17-year-old Ashley Royster. Amber was ejected from the car and declared dead at the scene of the accident. The driver and another passenger were taken to the hospital, as was the driver of the semi truck.
Here's Amber's MySpace page. She seems like a trip. There are some sad messages on her page, especially the one from her sister, who is due soon with her first baby.
Saturday
Friday, September 11, 2009
OKLAHOMA: A 19-year-old motorcycle driver was killed when he rear-ended a car that was trying to avoid a crash on the highway. Police say Thomas Forgione ran into the vehicle from behind when both vehicles changed lanes to avoid the crash. Forgione flew off the motorcycle and was trapped in the car for over an hour, according to this story. He was declared dead at the scene.
INDIANA: Police are considering charging a teen driver who was under the influence, even though he wasn't drunk, when he crashed a car into a tree, killing a passenger in the car. The IndyChannel.com says 19-year-old John Brown III died when the car struck a tree Friday night. Jonathon Freeze, 18, of Ohio, was listed in critical condition after the crash. He had a blood alcohol content of .026 -- less than half the .08 that results in arrest for drunk driving. But police are considering other charges, like reckless homicide.
CONNECTICUT: The New Britain Herald reports that Alexandra M. Rogers died after she lost control of her car, spun across the grassy median on the highway, and collided with an oncoming car. She was pronounced dead at the hospital later; the driver of the other car suffered minor injuries.
KANSAS: Two teens died in a one-vehicle crash late Friday, and the driver was taken to the hospital. The Hays Daily News reports that 16-year-old Jordyn Claiborn and 16-year-old Cody Younger died after the driver lost control of the truck he was driving, and it rolled. Jordyn and Cody were thrown from the truck. Neither were wearing seatbelts. Driver Clayton Hoffman was taken to the hospital.
Friends of Jordyn and Cody have posted memorial videos to their friends. Jordyn's is here and Cody's is here.
MARYLAND: Leslie Ann Hook, 16, was pronounced dead shortly after an accident that happened around 3 p.m. Friday. Police say Leslie lost control of her car on a wet road, crossed the centerline and drove into a tree on the other side of the road. Two other teens in the car were taken to the hospital.
INDIANA: Caitlin Lee McMasters, 17, of Jamestown, was killed Friday afternoon after she drove off the road and struck a tree. Police say she was speeding. There were no other passengers in her car. "This is another one of those sad cases where speed is a factor," Boone County Sheriff Ken Campbell told a local television station. "A young, inexperienced driver is traveling too fast and unfortunately, speed leads to tragedy."
OKLAHOMA: A 19-year-old motorcycle driver was killed when he rear-ended a car that was trying to avoid a crash on the highway. Police say Thomas Forgione ran into the vehicle from behind when both vehicles changed lanes to avoid the crash. Forgione flew off the motorcycle and was trapped in the car for over an hour, according to this story. He was declared dead at the scene.
INDIANA: Police are considering charging a teen driver who was under the influence, even though he wasn't drunk, when he crashed a car into a tree, killing a passenger in the car. The IndyChannel.com says 19-year-old John Brown III died when the car struck a tree Friday night. Jonathon Freeze, 18, of Ohio, was listed in critical condition after the crash. He had a blood alcohol content of .026 -- less than half the .08 that results in arrest for drunk driving. But police are considering other charges, like reckless homicide.
CONNECTICUT: The New Britain Herald reports that Alexandra M. Rogers died after she lost control of her car, spun across the grassy median on the highway, and collided with an oncoming car. She was pronounced dead at the hospital later; the driver of the other car suffered minor injuries.
KANSAS: Two teens died in a one-vehicle crash late Friday, and the driver was taken to the hospital. The Hays Daily News reports that 16-year-old Jordyn Claiborn and 16-year-old Cody Younger died after the driver lost control of the truck he was driving, and it rolled. Jordyn and Cody were thrown from the truck. Neither were wearing seatbelts. Driver Clayton Hoffman was taken to the hospital.
Friends of Jordyn and Cody have posted memorial videos to their friends. Jordyn's is here and Cody's is here.
INDIANA: Caitlin Lee McMasters, 17, of Jamestown, was killed Friday afternoon after she drove off the road and struck a tree. Police say she was speeding. There were no other passengers in her car. "This is another one of those sad cases where speed is a factor," Boone County Sheriff Ken Campbell told a local television station. "A young, inexperienced driver is traveling too fast and unfortunately, speed leads to tragedy."
Thursday
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
ILLINOIS: The Daily Herald reports that 19-year-old James Kaylor died Wednesday after he lost control of his vehicle, crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a truck head-on. The accident happened just after 1 a.m. Wednesday on Joliet Road in Woodridge. The truck driver tried to avoid the crash, but couldn't. He was uninjured. Police say there were no drugs or alcohol involved in the accident.
NEVADA: The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that 18-year-old Lucio Sanchez Jr. died Wednesday night in a crash that appears to have been caused by drunk driving. Four other teenagers also in the car were seriously injured. Lucio had just turned eastbound on Tropical Parkway in Las Vegas when he lost control of the vehicle, striking a brick wall.
Sanchez was taken to the hospital, where he later died. Police say there were three 14-year-old boys and a 17-year-old girl also in the car.
NEW YORK: Police have not yet named a 16-year-old boy who died in Ellenburg Center Wednesday night. Few details were available in this story in the Press-Republican, other than the accident was a one-car rollover.
UPDATE: The story has more details now. Christian Garceau died in the one-car crash around 10:40 p.m. He ran off the road and slammed into a group of boulders. His car flipped onto the side, where it burst into flames. Police believe speeding was a factor in the crash.
Follow the above link to learn more about Christian.
ILLINOIS: The Chicago Breaking News Center reports that 16-year-old Dematrice Wallace died on Thursday, a day after he sustained serious injuries in a head-on accident in Chicago. Dematrice was a rear-seat passenger in an Oldsmobile sedan that crashed head-on with a Saturn driven by a 37-year-old woman. Police have not yet released the cause of the crash.
ILLINOIS: The Daily Herald reports that 19-year-old James Kaylor died Wednesday after he lost control of his vehicle, crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a truck head-on. The accident happened just after 1 a.m. Wednesday on Joliet Road in Woodridge. The truck driver tried to avoid the crash, but couldn't. He was uninjured. Police say there were no drugs or alcohol involved in the accident.
NEVADA: The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that 18-year-old Lucio Sanchez Jr. died Wednesday night in a crash that appears to have been caused by drunk driving. Four other teenagers also in the car were seriously injured. Lucio had just turned eastbound on Tropical Parkway in Las Vegas when he lost control of the vehicle, striking a brick wall.
Sanchez was taken to the hospital, where he later died. Police say there were three 14-year-old boys and a 17-year-old girl also in the car.
NEW YORK: Police have not yet named a 16-year-old boy who died in Ellenburg Center Wednesday night. Few details were available in this story in the Press-Republican, other than the accident was a one-car rollover.
UPDATE: The story has more details now. Christian Garceau died in the one-car crash around 10:40 p.m. He ran off the road and slammed into a group of boulders. His car flipped onto the side, where it burst into flames. Police believe speeding was a factor in the crash.
Follow the above link to learn more about Christian.
ILLINOIS: The Chicago Breaking News Center reports that 16-year-old Dematrice Wallace died on Thursday, a day after he sustained serious injuries in a head-on accident in Chicago. Dematrice was a rear-seat passenger in an Oldsmobile sedan that crashed head-on with a Saturn driven by a 37-year-old woman. Police have not yet released the cause of the crash.
Wednesday
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
OHIO: A 19-year-old died after he drove off the road in Milan and into a utility pole. Todd C. Jordan, 19, of Norwalk died shortly after the accident at the hospital. Police say he was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.
UPDATE: There's a memorial story here that talks about how one friend couldn't believe Todd had died.
Another update: This story says Todd may have received a text message right before the accident.
LOUISIANA: The Daily World reports that a teen died Tuesday from injuries he sustained in an Aug. 30 accident. Michael Cade McDaniel, known as Cade, died Tuesday. He was 18. Police say they are considering upgrading charges against Ross Velillon, 17, who was the driver of the pickup truck Cade was in. He has already been charged with driving while intoxicated.
The crash occurred at 2:26 a.m. that day. The driver ran off the road, tried to correct the situation when the car began to spin. It went down an embankment and crashed into some trees. There were six teens in the car, and none of them were wearing seat belts.
UPDATE: There is a CaringBridge webpage for Cade, and a Facebook page asking for prayers for Cade when he was in the hospital.
OHIO: A 19-year-old died after he drove off the road in Milan and into a utility pole. Todd C. Jordan, 19, of Norwalk died shortly after the accident at the hospital. Police say he was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.
UPDATE: There's a memorial story here that talks about how one friend couldn't believe Todd had died.
Another update: This story says Todd may have received a text message right before the accident.
The crash occurred at 2:26 a.m. that day. The driver ran off the road, tried to correct the situation when the car began to spin. It went down an embankment and crashed into some trees. There were six teens in the car, and none of them were wearing seat belts.
UPDATE: There is a CaringBridge webpage for Cade, and a Facebook page asking for prayers for Cade when he was in the hospital.
Monday, September 7, 2009
MONTANA: There is an obituary listed here for Samuel "Sammy" Weatherwax, who died in a rollover accident near Red Eagle campground. I am looking for more information on this crash -- I am trying to keep this list limited to people who die in crashes in which the driver was 20 years old or younger, and I can't find any more information on Sammy's accident. Does anyone know where I can find more? Please leave info in the comments section. Thank you.
INDIANA: A 19-year-old who was a passenger in a car that swerved to avoid a deer struck a utility pole died at the scene of the accident. Jeffrey Blythe, 19, was a rear-seat passenger in the car, which hit the utility pole and then came to rest in a cornfield. The accident happened around 3:45 a.m. The 18-year-old driver had broken ribs, and the front seat passenger complained of neck pain. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.
FLORIDA: The Pensacola News Journal says police are investigating to see if speeding was a factor in a Labor Day car accident that left 15-year-old Tyler McCoy dead. A 1992 red Ford Mustang drive by James Hartsfield, 20, was driving along 17th Avenue in Pensacola and passed under the railroad trestle. Hartsfield lost control of the car, and slid sideways into oncoming traffic. He was struck by an oncoming car on the rear passenger side.
There were four people in the Mustang. One was listed with critical injuries after the crash, and another had multiple injuries. The driver in the other car was OK. She was wearing a seatbelt, but police don't know if the teens in the Mustang were wearing theirs. Police said the road was wet at the time of the crash, which could have caused the Mustang to lose control.
UPDATE: Here's a video story on Tyler, also known as T.C.There's also some skateboarding video of him on Youtube if you search TC McCoy, but I'm not posting them here because I can't determine which kid is TC.
MONTANA: There is an obituary listed here for Samuel "Sammy" Weatherwax, who died in a rollover accident near Red Eagle campground. I am looking for more information on this crash -- I am trying to keep this list limited to people who die in crashes in which the driver was 20 years old or younger, and I can't find any more information on Sammy's accident. Does anyone know where I can find more? Please leave info in the comments section. Thank you.
INDIANA: A 19-year-old who was a passenger in a car that swerved to avoid a deer struck a utility pole died at the scene of the accident. Jeffrey Blythe, 19, was a rear-seat passenger in the car, which hit the utility pole and then came to rest in a cornfield. The accident happened around 3:45 a.m. The 18-year-old driver had broken ribs, and the front seat passenger complained of neck pain. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.
There were four people in the Mustang. One was listed with critical injuries after the crash, and another had multiple injuries. The driver in the other car was OK. She was wearing a seatbelt, but police don't know if the teens in the Mustang were wearing theirs. Police said the road was wet at the time of the crash, which could have caused the Mustang to lose control.
UPDATE: Here's a video story on Tyler, also known as T.C.There's also some skateboarding video of him on Youtube if you search TC McCoy, but I'm not posting them here because I can't determine which kid is TC.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
TEXAS: Swanging? Swangin? However you spell it, a 12-year-old boy died around 2 a.m. after he fell off the hood of a car that was swanging/swangin down the road. Roderick Brigance, age 12, died after he was run over by the car he was sitting on. The 17-year-old driver first fled the scene, and then came back and turned himself in.
Swangin is a dangerous-looking cruising method, in which the drivers veer from one side of the road to the other side of the road back and forth, crossing into oncoming traffic if necessary.
UPDATE: A later story claims Roderick was just sitting on the hood of the car, and the driver came out and sped away, running him over. So it's unclear whether swangin was the real cause of the crash.
NORTH CAROLINA: The Charlotte Observer reports that a 16-year-old girl died Sunday in a single-car accident. Brittany Johnson was driving on Mauney Road when she ran off the road and into a ditch around 6:30 p.m., police said. The car then struck a utility pole.
More details came out later about the accident. Brittany was texting her mother when the crash occurred, according to this TV news story. Police say she ran off the road, struck an embankment, went airborne and struck a pole. It appeared the top of the car near Brittany's head struck the pole before the car spun around. Witnesses said it was wrapped around the pole like a horseshoe.
Read the TV story to hear more details about the help that came from neighbors.
PENNSYLVANIA: A local TV station reported that 16-year-old Kylee Acre was killed in an accident Sunday after the driver of the car she was in crossed the center line and hit an oncoming vehicle. Kylee, who was an active volunteer with organizations like Locks of Love, the Salvation Army, a rehabilitation center and a nursing home, was beginning her junior year at Burrell high school. The driver of the car, 18-year-old Jonathan O'Sullivan, was taken the hospital with serious injuries. Three other people were also hurt in the crash.
Here's Kylee's MySpace page. She lists her mommy as her hero, and posts this quote from Bob Marley: "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain."
LOUISIANA: Not much detail on this accident: Police say 17-year-old Allison Miller was killed when her vehicle flipped and struck a tree. She was found dead at the site of the accident around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The car appears to have left the roadway, flipped, and hit the tree.
Her obituary is here.
Swangin is a dangerous-looking cruising method, in which the drivers veer from one side of the road to the other side of the road back and forth, crossing into oncoming traffic if necessary.
UPDATE: A later story claims Roderick was just sitting on the hood of the car, and the driver came out and sped away, running him over. So it's unclear whether swangin was the real cause of the crash.
NORTH CAROLINA: The Charlotte Observer reports that a 16-year-old girl died Sunday in a single-car accident. Brittany Johnson was driving on Mauney Road when she ran off the road and into a ditch around 6:30 p.m., police said. The car then struck a utility pole.
More details came out later about the accident. Brittany was texting her mother when the crash occurred, according to this TV news story. Police say she ran off the road, struck an embankment, went airborne and struck a pole. It appeared the top of the car near Brittany's head struck the pole before the car spun around. Witnesses said it was wrapped around the pole like a horseshoe.
Read the TV story to hear more details about the help that came from neighbors.
Kylee Acre
PENNSYLVANIA: A local TV station reported that 16-year-old Kylee Acre was killed in an accident Sunday after the driver of the car she was in crossed the center line and hit an oncoming vehicle. Kylee, who was an active volunteer with organizations like Locks of Love, the Salvation Army, a rehabilitation center and a nursing home, was beginning her junior year at Burrell high school. The driver of the car, 18-year-old Jonathan O'Sullivan, was taken the hospital with serious injuries. Three other people were also hurt in the crash.
Here's Kylee's MySpace page. She lists her mommy as her hero, and posts this quote from Bob Marley: "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain."
LOUISIANA: Not much detail on this accident: Police say 17-year-old Allison Miller was killed when her vehicle flipped and struck a tree. She was found dead at the site of the accident around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The car appears to have left the roadway, flipped, and hit the tree.Her obituary is here.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
NORTH DAKOTA: An animal-loving 16-year-old died in a car accident Saturday after she swerved to avoid hitting a dog. Chelsey Lies was driving a pickup truck along a gravel road near her home when she swerved, entered a ditch and rolled over. She was ejected and died. Her brother, Cody, age 14, was also in the pickup but was not hurt. Neither were wearing their seatbelts.
LOUISIANA: Two teens were killed in Baton Rouge Sunday. Shay Michale Bush, 17, and Kenneth Williams, 16, were killed when the vehicle they were in slammed into a tree, police said. The vehicle they were driving had been reported stolen earlier in the day, although police do not know if the boys were involved in the robbery. They both died at the scene.
FLORIDA: The Orlando Sentinel reports that 19-year-old Neatro Warens died a full 17 months after a car accident that left him brain dead. The baseball star was on his way home from a game on March 14, 2008, when his car rolled and crashed into a tree. His family, and girlfriend, have been by his side ever since. His MySpace page was created after the accident.
LOUISIANA: Two teens were killed in Baton Rouge Sunday. Shay Michale Bush, 17, and Kenneth Williams, 16, were killed when the vehicle they were in slammed into a tree, police said. The vehicle they were driving had been reported stolen earlier in the day, although police do not know if the boys were involved in the robbery. They both died at the scene.
Friday, September 4, 2009
TEXAS: A teen died after he opened the passenger door of the car he was in, fell out, and was run over by a school bus. Police say verbal disputes between groups of teens in two cars resulted in the incident. Police believe the teen was trying to get out of the vehicle to escalate the fight, when the driver turned and drove away. The driver and victim were not named. Here's one of many stories on this incident.
PENNSYLVANIA: An 18-year-old Fort LeBoeuf High School senior died late Friday night less than a half mile away from her Summit home, according to the Erie Times-News. Danielle Chizewick had been out at a football game Friday night, returned home for a bit and then headed back out. She said she'd be back soon.
Minutes later, her car slammed into a utility pole and a large tree, flipped, and then came to rest against another tree. It took rescue workers more than an hour to free her from the wreckage. She died at the scene, and the accident cut off power to the neighborhood, including her parents' home.
The three other teen males in the car were not identified. They were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
MAINE: A passenger was ejected from a car and died late Friday in a one-car accident near Kennebunk. State police said the car veered off the road, went into a ditch and struck a cement culvert. Anthony Blangiardi, 18, of Eliot, was ejected from the vehicle's passenger side and was later pronounced dead. The driver, 18-year-old Jonathan Veino was treated and released from the hospital. Veino was wearing a seatbelt, and Blangiardi was not, but police noted that the passenger seat was also ejected from the car during the accident.
Updated story here. Police say alcohol was involved in the crash.
UPDATE: Police arrested Veino on Sept. 11, and charged him with manslaughter and aggravated operating under the influence. Story here.
DELAWARE: A 46-year-old man was struck and killed by an SUV driven by a 17-year-old in Smyrna, police said. Police believe the man was drunk as he was walking down the road. The teen driver slowed down and honked, but the man fell into the path of the SUV. The teen was unable to avoid hitting the man.
TEXAS: A teen died after he opened the passenger door of the car he was in, fell out, and was run over by a school bus. Police say verbal disputes between groups of teens in two cars resulted in the incident. Police believe the teen was trying to get out of the vehicle to escalate the fight, when the driver turned and drove away. The driver and victim were not named. Here's one of many stories on this incident.
Minutes later, her car slammed into a utility pole and a large tree, flipped, and then came to rest against another tree. It took rescue workers more than an hour to free her from the wreckage. She died at the scene, and the accident cut off power to the neighborhood, including her parents' home.
The three other teen males in the car were not identified. They were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Updated story here. Police say alcohol was involved in the crash.
UPDATE: Police arrested Veino on Sept. 11, and charged him with manslaughter and aggravated operating under the influence. Story here.
DELAWARE: A 46-year-old man was struck and killed by an SUV driven by a 17-year-old in Smyrna, police said. Police believe the man was drunk as he was walking down the road. The teen driver slowed down and honked, but the man fell into the path of the SUV. The teen was unable to avoid hitting the man.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
MICHIGAN: An Okemos water polo team captain died early Friday morning after a Thursday night accident. The Lansing State Journal says 17-year-old Adam Nevells was leaving the high school when he pulled his car out in front of an oncoming pickup truck late Thursday. He had returned to school with a friend to pick up a car that had been left behind.
Friends have set up a memorial Facebook page here. And the local news station covered the aftermath of the accident as well:
MISSOURI: According to this story, a 16-year-old Fort Zumwalt High School student died and another was injured in a night-time crash. Elise Sunderhuse, a passenger in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver, 16-year-old Courtney Miener, was rushed to the hospital in serious condition. Courtney lost control on Route DD at Ridgefield Farms, overcorrected, causing the car to skid across the highway. The right side of the car struck a brick subdivision sign before coming to a stop.
UPDATE: Friends have created a Facebook page to solicit letters in an attempt to convince the state to fix problems along Route DD.
Also, I believe this may be Elise dancing with a friend. Very cute.
NEBRASKA: An 18-year-old girl was killed in a car accident that police say was likely caused by drug and alcohol consumption. Amy J. Stone was driving southbound on Highway 83 around 10:50 p.m. when the car left the west side of the highway and rolled. Amy was ejected from the car. Two passengers, 19-year-old Shannon Funn and 19-year-old Kyle Rollenhagen, were seriously injured. No one was wearing seatbelts.
IOWA: A 16-year-old girl from Tiffen died in a single-car accident caused by a 15-year-old driver. Alyssa Benedict died at the scene of the accident, after the driver lost control of the car on the highway. The van entered the median, rolled, and came to rest on its top in the southbound lanes, according to this story in the WCF Courier. The driver, 15-year-old Rachel Stewart, and a 16-year-old passenger were taken to the hospital.
UPATE: According to Alyssa's obituary listed here, she was a bright, spirited girl who planned to join the Peace Corps and to become a veterinarian for exotic animals. "Alyssa had a zest for life that affected everyone. She was creative, artistic, love photography and excelled at writing."
Investigators now think a blown tire may have lead to the accident. See story and accident photo here.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Here's a video from her memorial. She seemed like a cool gal -- bright and fun enough to warrant a dance party at her memorial.
MICHIGAN: An Okemos water polo team captain died early Friday morning after a Thursday night accident. The Lansing State Journal says 17-year-old Adam Nevells was leaving the high school when he pulled his car out in front of an oncoming pickup truck late Thursday. He had returned to school with a friend to pick up a car that had been left behind.
Friends have set up a memorial Facebook page here. And the local news station covered the aftermath of the accident as well:
UPDATE: Friends have created a Facebook page to solicit letters in an attempt to convince the state to fix problems along Route DD.
Also, I believe this may be Elise dancing with a friend. Very cute.
UPATE: According to Alyssa's obituary listed here, she was a bright, spirited girl who planned to join the Peace Corps and to become a veterinarian for exotic animals. "Alyssa had a zest for life that affected everyone. She was creative, artistic, love photography and excelled at writing."
Investigators now think a blown tire may have lead to the accident. See story and accident photo here.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Here's a video from her memorial. She seemed like a cool gal -- bright and fun enough to warrant a dance party at her memorial.
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009
TEXAS: This is just tragic: An unlicensed 14-year-old driver caused an accident that killed five people in the car, including herself, her mother and her brother. According to this story in the Amarillo Globe-News, Aime Banuelos was driving a minivan along Highway 70 about 10 miles north of Pampa when she took her eyes off the road and crossed the median, crashing into an oncoming truck. A photo from Amarillo.com shows a decimated, burned minivan on the side of the road.
"The scene was heartbreaking," said a spokesman for the state troopers. "I don't want to elaborate. It was difficult for the officers. It's difficult to face that sort of decimation. Any human would be taken aback by that type of scene."
Aime died at the scene. So did her mother, Teresa Martinez, 46; her brother, Juan Banuelos, 15; her friend, Jeff Pace, 16; and a family friend, Estafana Cortez-Rosales, 74. Martinez's granddaughter, Celeste Espitia, 5, survived and was flown to the hospital for treatment.
State troopers say the driver of the big rig Aime collided with saw her take her eyes off the road before the accident. She was leaning over picking something up, moving something, or adjusting something. Whatever it was, it took her eyes off the road for a critical few seconds.
PENNSYLVANIA: A 16-year-old was killed on her first day at a new school as she took a ride home. Police say all three occupants in the car were wearing their seatbelts, and speeding did not appear to be a factor, according to this story. But the driver lost control somehow, and Alexandra Smolin, 16, was killed. She had only been at Central Bucks South high school for a day, having recently moved from Florida.
Other newspapers have her name spelled correctly, and there's a nice memorial story here.
NORTH CAROLINA: Police say 18-year-old Bryan Patrick Sheppard of Reidsville died Wednesday afternoon when he pulled in front of an oncoming car. He was driving a 1985 Pontiac when he tried to cross the highway, and was hit by a 2006 Toyota heading southbound. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts.
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009
No fatal accidents reported through Google News Alerts or through Nexis. Could we have had a safe day?
UPDATE: No such luck.
OHIO: Rebecca Ickes, of Bremen, died following an accident that happened on Tuesday which at first puzzled accident investigators. Now, police say Rebecca, known as Becky, ran a stop sign and collided with an oncoming van, according to the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Becky died Wednesday from her injuries.
The stunning red head graduated from Fairfield Union High School this year and planned to attend the Lancaster campus of Ohio University in the winter semester. She wanted to major in early childhood education.
The newspaper posted a sad photo of someone holding Becky's hand after the accident. Becky's mom, Cheryl, says she's happy someone was there to hold her hand and talk to her during that time of crisis.
Monday, August 31, 2009
OREGON: Seventeen-year-old Marissa Pratt died at the scene of one-vehicle accident at 5 a.m., police said. Three others were injured. The News-Review reports that a 16-year-old female and two 22-year-old males were injured. The 2006 Jeep Wrangler had been traveling east when the driver lost control and slid off the roadway. It rolled before coming to rest about 200 feet down an embankment.
Photo from the Amarillo Globe-News
TEXAS: This is just tragic: An unlicensed 14-year-old driver caused an accident that killed five people in the car, including herself, her mother and her brother. According to this story in the Amarillo Globe-News, Aime Banuelos was driving a minivan along Highway 70 about 10 miles north of Pampa when she took her eyes off the road and crossed the median, crashing into an oncoming truck. A photo from Amarillo.com shows a decimated, burned minivan on the side of the road.
"The scene was heartbreaking," said a spokesman for the state troopers. "I don't want to elaborate. It was difficult for the officers. It's difficult to face that sort of decimation. Any human would be taken aback by that type of scene."
Aime died at the scene. So did her mother, Teresa Martinez, 46; her brother, Juan Banuelos, 15; her friend, Jeff Pace, 16; and a family friend, Estafana Cortez-Rosales, 74. Martinez's granddaughter, Celeste Espitia, 5, survived and was flown to the hospital for treatment.
State troopers say the driver of the big rig Aime collided with saw her take her eyes off the road before the accident. She was leaning over picking something up, moving something, or adjusting something. Whatever it was, it took her eyes off the road for a critical few seconds.
PENNSYLVANIA: A 16-year-old was killed on her first day at a new school as she took a ride home. Police say all three occupants in the car were wearing their seatbelts, and speeding did not appear to be a factor, according to this story. But the driver lost control somehow, and Alexandra Smolin, 16, was killed. She had only been at Central Bucks South high school for a day, having recently moved from Florida.
Other newspapers have her name spelled correctly, and there's a nice memorial story here.
NORTH CAROLINA: Police say 18-year-old Bryan Patrick Sheppard of Reidsville died Wednesday afternoon when he pulled in front of an oncoming car. He was driving a 1985 Pontiac when he tried to cross the highway, and was hit by a 2006 Toyota heading southbound. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts.
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009
No fatal accidents reported through Google News Alerts or through Nexis. Could we have had a safe day?
UPDATE: No such luck.
OHIO: Rebecca Ickes, of Bremen, died following an accident that happened on Tuesday which at first puzzled accident investigators. Now, police say Rebecca, known as Becky, ran a stop sign and collided with an oncoming van, according to the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Becky died Wednesday from her injuries.
The stunning red head graduated from Fairfield Union High School this year and planned to attend the Lancaster campus of Ohio University in the winter semester. She wanted to major in early childhood education.
The newspaper posted a sad photo of someone holding Becky's hand after the accident. Becky's mom, Cheryl, says she's happy someone was there to hold her hand and talk to her during that time of crisis.
Monday, August 31, 2009
OREGON: Seventeen-year-old Marissa Pratt died at the scene of one-vehicle accident at 5 a.m., police said. Three others were injured. The News-Review reports that a 16-year-old female and two 22-year-old males were injured. The 2006 Jeep Wrangler had been traveling east when the driver lost control and slid off the roadway. It rolled before coming to rest about 200 feet down an embankment.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
UTAH: A motorcross racer died when the RV he was driving rolled off a mountain road after losing its brakes. Tanner Krahenbuhl, 16, was leaving or coming to (unclear from various reports) a motorcross event near Powder Mountain towing a 24-foot trailer. The Nevada teen had two other people in the RV with him, who survived the crash. There are videos of Tanner here at his personal Web site. And here is a memorial site.
KANSAS: A 17-year-old died when her car ran off the road in Hodgeman County. Amber R. Schmitt was driving a 2002 Chevy Silverado, according to the Dodge City Daily Globe, when she left the road and entered a ditch. She re-entered the road, but lost control of the vehicle, which went back into the ditch and rolled.
PENNSYLVANIA: State Police said 19-year-old Benjamin Horner of Franklin was killed in a 3:48 p.m. crash in Ashland Township. The teen, driving a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier, crossed into oncoming traffic and sideswiped another car. Horner was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other driver was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts.
OHIO: A Caledonia teen was killed in a car accident after she crossed into oncoming traffic and struck another vehicle head on, according to the Marion Star. Eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Bayles was declared dead at the scene of the 9:25 p.m. crash., and the driver of the other car was brought to the hospital. No word on seatbelt use or the cause of the crash.
UTAH: Four teens died in a high-speed accident along a rural road sometime between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., although the scene of the accident was not discovered until 7:30 a.m. The driver had survived the initial impact and was able to walk or crawl a short distance away before he died, according to a story in the Deseret News. The Chevy Aveo subcompact car was going about 95 mph before crashing, police said. Jose Flores, 16, of Orem, was driving, and died shortly after the crash. The three passengers, Mauro Lopez, 16, and Manuel Gonzalez, 19, both of Orem, and Vanessa Estrada, 13, of Payson, were killed instantly.
UPDATE: Memorial story on Vanessa can be found here. The driver was apparently going around 100 mph in a 30 mph zone.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Blake C. Tuggle, 18, died in a one-car accident after his 1991 Honda slid off the wet highway, according to The State. The car crashed into the woods and struck two trees about 9:50 p.m. He had been speeding, the county coroner's office said, and was wearing his seatbelt.
MINNESOTA: Police are not releasing the name of a 19-year-old woman from East Bethel who died in a one-car rollover crash Sunday morning. There were no witnesses, and the woman was wearing her seatbelt.
UTAH: A motorcross racer died when the RV he was driving rolled off a mountain road after losing its brakes. Tanner Krahenbuhl, 16, was leaving or coming to (unclear from various reports) a motorcross event near Powder Mountain towing a 24-foot trailer. The Nevada teen had two other people in the RV with him, who survived the crash. There are videos of Tanner here at his personal Web site. And here is a memorial site.
KANSAS: A 17-year-old died when her car ran off the road in Hodgeman County. Amber R. Schmitt was driving a 2002 Chevy Silverado, according to the Dodge City Daily Globe, when she left the road and entered a ditch. She re-entered the road, but lost control of the vehicle, which went back into the ditch and rolled.
PENNSYLVANIA: State Police said 19-year-old Benjamin Horner of Franklin was killed in a 3:48 p.m. crash in Ashland Township. The teen, driving a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier, crossed into oncoming traffic and sideswiped another car. Horner was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other driver was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts.
OHIO: A Caledonia teen was killed in a car accident after she crossed into oncoming traffic and struck another vehicle head on, according to the Marion Star. Eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Bayles was declared dead at the scene of the 9:25 p.m. crash., and the driver of the other car was brought to the hospital. No word on seatbelt use or the cause of the crash.
UPDATE: Memorial story on Vanessa can be found here. The driver was apparently going around 100 mph in a 30 mph zone.
MINNESOTA: Police are not releasing the name of a 19-year-old woman from East Bethel who died in a one-car rollover crash Sunday morning. There were no witnesses, and the woman was wearing her seatbelt.
Tuesday
Saturday, August 29, 2009
INDIANA: Two people died in a one-car accident just after 6 a.m. in Charlestown. Three men were in a 2004 Ford Mustang, which lost control. Two were ejected and the third had to be extricated. Robert Reynolds, 19, of Kentucky, died at the hospital. Cory Flint, 26, of Madison, Ind., died a few days later. The third passenger remains in critical condition.
More details on that accident can be found here.
MASSACHUSSETS: A 16-year-old driver struck and killed an 18-year-old skateboarder around 11:30 p.m. Saturday in Middleborough. Christopher Brooks was killed by the minivan driven by 16-year-old Jordan Layman. The accident is under investigation.
There is a memorial story for Christopher, also known as CJ or "Brooksy", here. Family members say he was an "enthusiastic, fun-loving and caring person."
OHIO: Police say 18-year-old Tylor Hale died after he failed to stop at a stop sign, causing an accident with a pickup truck. A passenger in Hale's car was hurt, as were others in the truck, according to this brief story.
UPDATE: His obituary can be found here.
KANSAS: The story is not entirely clear, but it appears two teens are dead and a passenger is in serious injury after a one-car accident resulted in a severe rollover accident. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 17-year-old Whitney Young of Wichita overcorrected (why she did that is unclear), lost control of the vehicle which then left the roadway and overturned several times in the median. Whitney died at the scene, as did 18-year-old Holly Marler of Maize. Jared Kannady, also of Maize, was listed in serious condition after the crash.
A memorial story about the girls, who were good friends, can be found here.
INDIANA: A teenager and three others were injured after the teen driver lost control of the car and crossed into oncoming traffic. The vehicle was struck by an SUV. Both of the backseat passengers, who were not wearing seatbelts, were ejected from the vehicle. Shelby Worthington, 17, one of the teens in the back, was pronounced dead at a local hospital soon after the crash. The other backseat passenger, also 17, was listed in grave condition. The driver and front seat passenger were also wearing seatbelts. Police say alcohol was not a factor in the accident.
More info here on Shelby, who was a twin.
NORTH CAROLINA: Police say 17-year-old Patrick McLaughlin of Zebulon was killed when he lost control of his car on U.S. 64, just west of Wendell, and struck a tree. Alcohol was not a factor, and McLaughlin was wearing his seatbelt.
More info here about Patrick and his "infectious smile." And another memorial story here. Police now saw Patrick veered off the road and he overcorrected, losing control of the car. He was about to become an Eagle Scout.
MISSOURI: The News-Leader reports that one teen died and another suffered serious injuries after a 5 a.m. accident half a mile west of Halltown. Passenger Zachary Geeding, 17, of Pineville died in the crash. Eighteen year old Kenny Condreay suffered serious injuries. Condreay was driving a 1997 Ford Mustang, which ran off the road, down a steep embankment and hit several trees. Both young men were wearing seatbelts.
INDIANA: Two people died in a one-car accident just after 6 a.m. in Charlestown. Three men were in a 2004 Ford Mustang, which lost control. Two were ejected and the third had to be extricated. Robert Reynolds, 19, of Kentucky, died at the hospital. Cory Flint, 26, of Madison, Ind., died a few days later. The third passenger remains in critical condition.
More details on that accident can be found here.
There is a memorial story for Christopher, also known as CJ or "Brooksy", here. Family members say he was an "enthusiastic, fun-loving and caring person."
OHIO: Police say 18-year-old Tylor Hale died after he failed to stop at a stop sign, causing an accident with a pickup truck. A passenger in Hale's car was hurt, as were others in the truck, according to this brief story.
UPDATE: His obituary can be found here.
A memorial story about the girls, who were good friends, can be found here.
INDIANA: A teenager and three others were injured after the teen driver lost control of the car and crossed into oncoming traffic. The vehicle was struck by an SUV. Both of the backseat passengers, who were not wearing seatbelts, were ejected from the vehicle. Shelby Worthington, 17, one of the teens in the back, was pronounced dead at a local hospital soon after the crash. The other backseat passenger, also 17, was listed in grave condition. The driver and front seat passenger were also wearing seatbelts. Police say alcohol was not a factor in the accident.
More info here on Shelby, who was a twin.
More info here about Patrick and his "infectious smile." And another memorial story here. Police now saw Patrick veered off the road and he overcorrected, losing control of the car. He was about to become an Eagle Scout.
MISSOURI: The News-Leader reports that one teen died and another suffered serious injuries after a 5 a.m. accident half a mile west of Halltown. Passenger Zachary Geeding, 17, of Pineville died in the crash. Eighteen year old Kenny Condreay suffered serious injuries. Condreay was driving a 1997 Ford Mustang, which ran off the road, down a steep embankment and hit several trees. Both young men were wearing seatbelts.
Friday, August 28, 2009
NORTH DAKOTA: A teenager caused a head-on collision with a semi truck, killing the driver of the truck in the accident. A 16-year-old girl from Steele was driving north on the highway and made a left turn in front of the oncoming semi, causing a head-on collision. The driver of the truck, 59-year-old Gene Rusell Hogue, was pronounced dead at the scene.
WEST VIRGINIA: A 16-year-old died late Friday in a one-car accident. Talon Steadman was going around a turn in Bridgeport when he lost control of the Saturn he was driving and hit a tree. He suffered massive head trauma, was taken to a local hospital and then flown to a regional hospital, where he was declared dead. He was a junior at Bridgeport high school and a member of the football team.
UPATE: Talon was apparently texting when he died. He was driving 44 mph in a 35 mph zone, and never saw the three-foot tree he was about to crash into. He never applied his brakes before the accident, police say.
About 2,000 people attended his funeral.
NEBRASKA: A 16-year-old passenger died after a two-car crash at an intersection in Elm Creek Friday afternoon. Police say cars driven by a 28-year-old and 17-year-old Braeden Stauffer collided at an intersection east of town. Bryce Russell, 17, of Elm Creek, died of his injuries at the hospital. Both drivers and another passenger in Stauffer's car were taken to the hospital.
More details available here from the Kearney Hub newspaper.
NORTH DAKOTA: A teenager caused a head-on collision with a semi truck, killing the driver of the truck in the accident. A 16-year-old girl from Steele was driving north on the highway and made a left turn in front of the oncoming semi, causing a head-on collision. The driver of the truck, 59-year-old Gene Rusell Hogue, was pronounced dead at the scene.
WEST VIRGINIA: A 16-year-old died late Friday in a one-car accident. Talon Steadman was going around a turn in Bridgeport when he lost control of the Saturn he was driving and hit a tree. He suffered massive head trauma, was taken to a local hospital and then flown to a regional hospital, where he was declared dead. He was a junior at Bridgeport high school and a member of the football team.
UPATE: Talon was apparently texting when he died. He was driving 44 mph in a 35 mph zone, and never saw the three-foot tree he was about to crash into. He never applied his brakes before the accident, police say.
About 2,000 people attended his funeral.
More details available here from the Kearney Hub newspaper.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Virginia: Alana Michelle Hester, a 17-year-old senior from Amissville, was killed shortly before 5:30 p.m. when she pulled out in front of a dump truck. Alana celebrated her 17th birthday just three weeks ago, and was a senior at Culpeper High School. Police say the truck driver will not be charged with anything.
Culpeper High School senior Kelly Dubell told the Star Exponent newspaper that she's known Hester, a captain on the soccer team, since sixth grade.
"She's always been a close friend of mine," Dubell said. "This is the year that we've gotten really close -- we were so excited about senior year ... She was all around an amazing person. I never saw her upset once; she'd just make anyone's day better."
IOWA: A 15-year-old girl who was a rising rodeo star died on her way home from a volleyball game, and may have been texting at the time of the crash. Alyssa Jo Vanderhof died after she lost control of her pickup truck heading home from a volleball game at her high school in Sioux Rapids. She had a learner's permit that allowed her to drive to and from school. She was not wearing a seatbelt, according to this story in the Des Moines Register.
The profile in the newspaper story describes Alyssa, also known as AJ, as a girl who was comfortable competing in the man's world of competitive bull riding. She was more comfortable in chaps and a cowboy hat than anything else, but had agreed to wear a dress and high heels for her sister's wedding Saturday. She missed the wedding, and didn't get to wear the turquoise Converse sneakers she'd bought to wear at the reception, because of the accident. Her family went ahead with the wedding, and then held Alyssa's funeral Tuesday.
Culpeper High School senior Kelly Dubell told the Star Exponent newspaper that she's known Hester, a captain on the soccer team, since sixth grade.
"She's always been a close friend of mine," Dubell said. "This is the year that we've gotten really close -- we were so excited about senior year ... She was all around an amazing person. I never saw her upset once; she'd just make anyone's day better."
The profile in the newspaper story describes Alyssa, also known as AJ, as a girl who was comfortable competing in the man's world of competitive bull riding. She was more comfortable in chaps and a cowboy hat than anything else, but had agreed to wear a dress and high heels for her sister's wedding Saturday. She missed the wedding, and didn't get to wear the turquoise Converse sneakers she'd bought to wear at the reception, because of the accident. Her family went ahead with the wedding, and then held Alyssa's funeral Tuesday.
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