Wednesday, October 22, 2009
SOUTH CAROLINA: A 17-year-old girl died in a one-car accident after her 18-year-old brother drove into a tree. Emily Marlene Peck, of Greenville, was declared dead at the scene of the crash around 9 p.m. Wednesday. Her 18-year-old brother and 13-year-old brother, who was also in the car, were brought to the hospital.
CALIFORNIA: A radio station says 18-year-old Lee Williams died after crossed into oncoming traffic, off the road, and into a culvert. He wasn't wearing a seatbelt during the 8 a.m. accident, and was declared dead at the scene.
ILLINOIS: A Pekin teenager was removed from lifesupport and her organs were donated five days after a crash that left her brain dead. Ashlyn Payne, 18, was a passenger in a car driven by 18-year-old Jamie Duhs, that was going about 90 mph when the accident occurred. Jamie had a blood alcohol content of .213 percent, more than double the legal limit for drivers old enough to drink, according to the Peoria Journal Star. An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday on Ashlyn.
Showing posts with label single occupant accident. Show all posts
Showing posts with label single occupant accident. Show all posts
Friday
Saturday, October 17, 2009
IDAHO: Police are investigating the death of a 19-year-old from St. Anthony. Dalin Waddell died Saturday night after he rolled his car earlier in the day. The car rolled, and Waddell was found lying in a ditch nearby. Apparently he had been in a fight Friday night, so police are investigating to rule out foul play.
IDAHO: Police are investigating the death of a 19-year-old from St. Anthony. Dalin Waddell died Saturday night after he rolled his car earlier in the day. The car rolled, and Waddell was found lying in a ditch nearby. Apparently he had been in a fight Friday night, so police are investigating to rule out foul play.
Tuesday
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.
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.
Monday
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.
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.
Sunday
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.
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.
Wednesday
August 26, 2009
MONTANA: An unnamed 19-year-old was killed after attempting an incredibly risky -- and likely illegal -- maneuver on a highway north of Wolf Point. He was driving a 1990 F-250 truck in reverse up the highway road when he attempted to make a "j-turn" -- a 180-degree turn without stopping. He also wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
He drove the truck off the road, and he was ejected from the truck as it started to roll. It rolled on top of him, killing him. The three other passengers in the truck were all wearing their seatbelts, and walked away from the crash.
NEW YORK: There are few details in this Mid-Hudson News report on the death of Richard Lodovichetti of Warwick, N.Y. They call him a teen in the headline and say he graduated from Warwick High School in 2008, so he's got to be 18 or 19, but the paper doesn't say his age.
He was driving by himself in a 2005 Dodge Neon along a road in Chester, following behind two cars driven by friends. He passed both in a legal passing zone, lost control and ran off the road. He struck fence posts and earth embankments, the paper says, before rolling over.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
UPDATE: Still few details out about Rich, but he appears to have been passionate about his car. Here's what appears to be a page showing off his 2005 Dodge Neon.
August 25, 2009
NEW JERSEY: An 18-year-old boy from Monroe was killed after he tried to pass a pickup truck on the left, as the truck was attempting to make a left-hand turn. Matthew Bowdenhodge was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which happened around 9:16 p.m. in Englishtown. He tried to pass a pick-up truck driven by 20-year-old Robin Smart, and as he passed his Toyota Camry clipped the truck and then went across the road and hit a pole and mail box. Two passengers in his car suffered severe injuries, and one was flown to the hospital. The other went in an ambulance.
UTAH: A recent high school graduate and soccer enthusiast died Tuesday night after he attempted to pass a car that was stopping at a red light. He collided into oncoming traffic, rolling his Ford Ranger several times, and was ejected from the car, according to The Herald Journal.
Police said Jacob Hawkes, 19, of Hyde Park, was airlifted to an area hospital, where he died. The Herald Journal story has a lot more details about Hawkes and his family.
NORTH CAROLINA: A teen driver is listed in critical condition following a crash that killed the two passengers in his car. Demonte Cissell, 22, and 16-year-old Destinee Taylor were both killed in the one-car accident in Durham, according to a local TV station.
Destinee had just finished her first day of tenth grade, the story says, and was a joyful, happy teenager, the family says. Her family spent Wednesday picking through debris at the accident site, hoping to find something belonging to her.
Police say excessive speed was a factor in the crash. The car left the road, crossed a ditch and flew into the trees, snapping branches more than 10 feet in the air.
OREGON: This accident defies all the norms of a teen driving accident (no speeding, no groups of teens in a car, seatbelts were in use), and yet reflects the inexperience teen drivers bring to the road.
Sixteen-year-old Heather Snyder was killed, and her father was seriously injured, when Heather collided with a fully loaded dump truck along a road in Lafayette County. Heather was stopped at an intersection, and then proceeded through in front of the dump truck, which struck the driver's side door and killed her. Her father, Frank Snyder, was in the passenger seat and was airlifted to an area hospital.
Roger Wise, the driver of the dump truck, said he tried to stop but couldn't. He was uninjured. Everyone was wearing seatbelts.
It's hard to say who's at fault here, given the details provided by the local TV station story. Was Wise running a red light? Was Heather not paying attention? Whatever the circumstances, they say young female drivers are very trusting on the road, and tend to believe that everyone is going to be OK and all the other drivers are going to do exactly what they are supposed to do. It takes a few scares, I think, to learn how to react and how to be hyper vigilant when crossing through major intersections. I'm sorry this turned so badly for this family.
This one hits home for me, because my husband's grandparents were killed in a similar accident. It's hard to survive an accident with a giant mass of dump truck, especially when it's fully loaded. The laws of physics don't bend for anyone.
MICHIGAN: A girl mourning the death of her father apparently committed suicide by driving into oncoming traffic. Michigan State Police told a local TV station that Noura Hattar, 16, of Milford, left a suicide note behind before driving her mother's SUV eastbound on westbound lanes of I-96 in Leroy Township. The note said she was tired of being depressed and wanted to to see her father. (The Detroit News story actually spells her name correctly.)
Here's a Youtube video of Noura horsing around with a friend. The date on the video is June 9.
MONTANA: An unnamed 19-year-old was killed after attempting an incredibly risky -- and likely illegal -- maneuver on a highway north of Wolf Point. He was driving a 1990 F-250 truck in reverse up the highway road when he attempted to make a "j-turn" -- a 180-degree turn without stopping. He also wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
He drove the truck off the road, and he was ejected from the truck as it started to roll. It rolled on top of him, killing him. The three other passengers in the truck were all wearing their seatbelts, and walked away from the crash.
NEW YORK: There are few details in this Mid-Hudson News report on the death of Richard Lodovichetti of Warwick, N.Y. They call him a teen in the headline and say he graduated from Warwick High School in 2008, so he's got to be 18 or 19, but the paper doesn't say his age.
He was driving by himself in a 2005 Dodge Neon along a road in Chester, following behind two cars driven by friends. He passed both in a legal passing zone, lost control and ran off the road. He struck fence posts and earth embankments, the paper says, before rolling over.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
UPDATE: Still few details out about Rich, but he appears to have been passionate about his car. Here's what appears to be a page showing off his 2005 Dodge Neon.
August 25, 2009
NEW JERSEY: An 18-year-old boy from Monroe was killed after he tried to pass a pickup truck on the left, as the truck was attempting to make a left-hand turn. Matthew Bowdenhodge was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which happened around 9:16 p.m. in Englishtown. He tried to pass a pick-up truck driven by 20-year-old Robin Smart, and as he passed his Toyota Camry clipped the truck and then went across the road and hit a pole and mail box. Two passengers in his car suffered severe injuries, and one was flown to the hospital. The other went in an ambulance.
UTAH: A recent high school graduate and soccer enthusiast died Tuesday night after he attempted to pass a car that was stopping at a red light. He collided into oncoming traffic, rolling his Ford Ranger several times, and was ejected from the car, according to The Herald Journal.
Police said Jacob Hawkes, 19, of Hyde Park, was airlifted to an area hospital, where he died. The Herald Journal story has a lot more details about Hawkes and his family.
NORTH CAROLINA: A teen driver is listed in critical condition following a crash that killed the two passengers in his car. Demonte Cissell, 22, and 16-year-old Destinee Taylor were both killed in the one-car accident in Durham, according to a local TV station.
Destinee had just finished her first day of tenth grade, the story says, and was a joyful, happy teenager, the family says. Her family spent Wednesday picking through debris at the accident site, hoping to find something belonging to her.
Police say excessive speed was a factor in the crash. The car left the road, crossed a ditch and flew into the trees, snapping branches more than 10 feet in the air.
OREGON: This accident defies all the norms of a teen driving accident (no speeding, no groups of teens in a car, seatbelts were in use), and yet reflects the inexperience teen drivers bring to the road.
Roger Wise, the driver of the dump truck, said he tried to stop but couldn't. He was uninjured. Everyone was wearing seatbelts.
It's hard to say who's at fault here, given the details provided by the local TV station story. Was Wise running a red light? Was Heather not paying attention? Whatever the circumstances, they say young female drivers are very trusting on the road, and tend to believe that everyone is going to be OK and all the other drivers are going to do exactly what they are supposed to do. It takes a few scares, I think, to learn how to react and how to be hyper vigilant when crossing through major intersections. I'm sorry this turned so badly for this family.
This one hits home for me, because my husband's grandparents were killed in a similar accident. It's hard to survive an accident with a giant mass of dump truck, especially when it's fully loaded. The laws of physics don't bend for anyone.
MICHIGAN: A girl mourning the death of her father apparently committed suicide by driving into oncoming traffic. Michigan State Police told a local TV station that Noura Hattar, 16, of Milford, left a suicide note behind before driving her mother's SUV eastbound on westbound lanes of I-96 in Leroy Township. The note said she was tired of being depressed and wanted to to see her father. (The Detroit News story actually spells her name correctly.)
Here's a Youtube video of Noura horsing around with a friend. The date on the video is June 9.
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