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.

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."