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.
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