Driving reckelessly can be dangerous and can often result in fatal crashes and even death. This past week, a North Carolina teen has been charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle following the car crash that killed his 17-year-old friend. According to investigators, the 16-year-old driver was violating new driver laws by transporting three passengers after school when the car accident occurred. New drivers are now required to carry no more than one passenger.
Reports indicate that none of the passengers in the vehicle were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. The driver has been cited with a violation of his provisional license in addition to his misdemeanor death by vehicle charge. The 17-year-old who lost her life in the crash was riding in the back seat when the accident took place.
A witness to the accident confirmed that a driver traveling ahead of the teens hit his or her brakes suddenly, causing the SUV directly in front of the group to do the same. According the witness, the teen driver had the option to rear-end the SUV, swerve right and hit a parked car or swerve left into oncoming traffic. The young driver opted to swerve left in a split decision. Investigators believe that it was this split decision that caused the passenger’s death.
The witness, who works at the intersection where the accident occurred, stated that visibility in the area is terrible. She went on to express that, while the circumstances of the accident were tragic, the location came as no surprise. The witness told reporters that driving through the intersection is petrifying. Witnesses believe that a stop sign or street light may have lessened the impact of the car accident. North Carolina investigators have confirmed that speed was not a factor in the crash.
The new “one passenger for new drivers” law is aimed at preventing or minimizing such tragedies from occuring. No matter what the case, drivers are well served to wear their seat belts at all times. It could be the difference between a fatal accident or an inconvenient car crash.
Source: Wcnc, Teen charged in accident that killed classmate, Tony Burbeck, 06 May, 2011
