It’s always a tragedy when a teenager or child is killed in a car accident. Parents and families feel the pain of the loss, and entire communities who participated in the child or teen’s upbringing, schooling and other activities mourn the loss. In many cases, the death is made worse knowing that it could have been prevented.
This happened in Connecticut when a Ledyard High School student was killed in a car crash. The teen had been a passenger in a vehicle with a 17-year-old at around 4:12 p.m., when the teen lost control of the vehicle and rolled it. The Ford Ranger pickup was flipped when the police arrived.
The 17-year-old driver was able to exit the vehicle with only minor injuries. He was taken to the hospital for treatment while his passenger remained inside. When the emergency crew reached him, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police believe that the two teens were involved in the crash when the vehicle went off the road, struck a tree and rolled over.
The 17-year-old teen had received his license in January 2017, but he was prohibited from having passengers in his vehicle for the first six months of his licensing. Despite this, he and the 16-year-old teen were riding together when the crash took place. The 17-year-old should not have had a passenger in his vehicle; the Department of Motor Vehicles said the stipulation would have ended on the teen’s 18th birthday in October.
Crashes like this are avoidable. Following the law is necessary, and situations like this show why. If your teen passes away or if you suffer injuries because a teen violates driving regulations, your attorney can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Source: NBC Connecticut, “Ledyard High School Sophomore Killed in Crash,” May 10, 2017