car accident

Chris201W

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Last night two kids in my HS class (2007) wrapped their Camaro around a tree. They were pronounced dead at the scene. This is a lot to take in itself; not to mention the fact that it's less than a year after another kid in my class committed suicide.

This really sucks, but I hope my class can take something out of it. I suppose it's stuff like this that teaches us that no amount of sheltering from our parents can eliminate that slim chance of something bad happening. That should be very sobering to both students and parents.

It's going to be a tough week at school...
 

Norm

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That sort of thing happens all too often Chris, it's the same here in Australia. My sympathies to yourself and to all the families involved.
Norm
 

geepondy

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I'm sorry too, Chris. Ditto what Norm said. It happened to my class way back in 1979 when I was a junior and suddenly my class of approximately 120 lost two members as well as a younger classmate. I would just say feel comfortable to talk it over with your classmates, teachers, counselors, etc. and don't be afraid to express your thoughts and feelings.
 

cobb

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Oh man, I know my senior year we had a student die in a car accident. No one would of ever expected her to have any problems. Very quiet, smart, one of the teachers daughter and was working parts time at the other school assiting the younger students. She drove an suv too, back then in the early 90s those were considered safe at that time too than today.

FYI, the only other shocking thing about high school is what happens when its over. Many folks change, drop off the face of the earth and their life turns out completely opposite as they started.
 

Chronos

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Chris,

This is so sad. I remember that we had a couple of automotive-related deaths and several injuries way back when I was in high-school in the early 1980s. I am so sorry... driving is, and can be, dangerous at any time, no matter how well skilled the drivers are.

My niece is 16 and her mom is in a rush to buy her a car. Her friends have Cobra Mustangs, Corvettes, Evos/STi's, etc. I cringe. 300+ hp is just too much to the inexperienced, much less most experienced drivers. I'm not stating this was in any way the cause in the accident you mentioned Scott... and I hope I don't come across as anything other than sincere in my support.

I've driven and raced for many years, and if I may here is some advice:
- Take a performance driving class at a local race track. It will be expensive, but worth it. I'm recommending my niece take the class prior to her receiving the car. You will learn how to properly handle a car, including during emergency maneuvers. You will learn how to anticipate the actions of others, and maybe more importantly where to focus your eyes. I've driven around more accidents than I care to rememeber...
 

Sigman

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Stinks for sure! My 17 year old just got his license and is also in the class of 2007 - hits home indeed! I hope their deaths aren't in vain and indeed others learn from it! What a great loss!!
 

PlayboyJoeShmoe

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It has been ever so...

Back in the late 70's a fellow from my High School wrapped two different Trans Ams around the same power pole at different times. He was so blasted and therefore relaxed that he never got hurt bad.

My Cousin had an '03 Trans with 300 or so horses. It got busted up bad when a friend of hers drove it. I had driven it and knew it was easy to loose it!

I feel bad for the OP... and for anyone with teens!!
 

Trashman

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On topic, let this be a lesson to everyone...

You know how you always see people waiting to make a left hand turn and they already have their wheels turned? Sometimes, they've already got the car angled into the turn. Well, when I was in high school, a female student died as she was about to turn into the school parking lot. She was driving a VW Bug and she already had her wheels turned as she was waiting for oncoming traffic to pass. Well, she was rear ended and pushed into a head on collision.

Please, don't begin a turn until you can actually make it!

A better story:

While in high school, someone I knew was in a car accident, probably caused from speeding on a winding road. He was wearing his seat, but the side of the roof had collapsed onto his head after the car had flipped several times. He was in a coma for 2 weeks. He woke up and finished HS with straight A's!
 

jtr1962

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A few weeks ago a 17-year old who had been in my mom's choir was killed in a car accident. Her boyfriend got out OK but she was thrown out of the car and had the car land on her. She was alive at the time but her spine was severed. She died a few days later but I think it was merciful she did as she would have been a quadriplegic.

The more I see and hear stuff like this the more I can't wait until humans are out of the loop as far as driving goes. Tragedies like these are repeated 50,000 times a year in the US alone. My deepest condolences. :(
 

Chris201W

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Thanks for all the kind words guys.

On the note about fast cars, there are a couple of kids in my class who drive STi's, and some others with modified Honda's and Acura's, as well as some 3000GTs. I cringed the other day when I heard one of the kids with an STi say, "I'm getting my new clutch installed on Wednesday, so I'll be able to drive fast again." If any of you in the area saw the Fox news story tonight at 10, he was the one wearing the Subaru sweatshirt. Now, I know this specific person knows how to handle his car, as driving it is basically his life (he races at a track, etc.), but there are plenty of kids out there with overpowered cars that they don't really know how to drive.

My friends and I always talk about how cool it would be to have a Viper, or a Corvette, or a Trans Am, or whatever. We never really thought about how much harder it is to drive cars like that. After this accident, maybe I'll stick with my 4-cylinder Corolla...
 

Trashman

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Just thought I'd note that a Vette is really easy to drive! I'd guess that the Viper may be similar. I think the Trans Ams are a little sloppy, as far as handling goes. A few months ago, I drove a Vette at the GM Drive attraction behind the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. It was easier to control than any other car I'd ever driven. Next in line for awesome control (based on my experience) is my friends 2006 BMW 325i. I guess the difficulty comes with temptation and stupidity. Maybe, that is what you meant, Chris201W.
 

bfg9000

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The modern cars are actually a lot easier to drive because of software. They have ABS, traction control and stability control and feel simply like the hand of god is gently slowing you down if you are in a corner and going too fast! Yes, you can even floor a modern 505hp Corvette in the middle of a turn on a wet road and nothing bad whatsoever will happen.

But they cannot violate the laws of physics, so if you enter the corner going way too fast, then nothing can save you. If anything, an inexperienced driver will be more likely to not notice the signs that the car has actually been doing most of the driving for them and get way in over their head. By then it will be too late.
 

Concept

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It happens all too often. And it is a fact that in our area the highest rate of deaths are for the 17 to 25 year old's. Our Laws are being changed ATM to try and stem the current rate of deaths for this age bracket.

It is just such a waste of life.
 

Orbit

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out of my 25 good friends i went to school with/played sport with/ messed around with/knew 24 have been killed in automotive related accidents. none of them were older then 23 when they died. i don't go to funerals anymore. All of the deaths were entirely preventable but at the end of the day people will do what they want to do.


ORB>
 

Aaron1100us

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Thats horrible. I feel so sad for their families and friends. Two weeks after I graduated from HS back in 94, I saw a classmate of mine die in our property. On Sunday nights in Pella, all the kids cruise the square downtown. I was up there and getting tired so I went home. Our house is about 2 miles north of town on a S curve that is right after a short straigh away. This girl that I graduated with and two other guys who were a year older were in town and had alcohol in the trunk of their vehicle. They saw a cop car and took off north of town. I was in the driveway and heard a car going at a high rate of speed comming down the highway. I didn't see it at first but heard the car go into the ditch and crash, then two cop cars when flying past. I ran back in and dialed 911 and told the dispatcher that the police just went past the crash out in our field right next to our yard. I ran up there and the car was upside down in our field. The girl died of a broken neck and the two guys got out with just a broken arm for one and the other wasn't injured. No charges filed.
 

jayflash

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My condolences to all who've lost friends and loved ones. Preventable auto and motor cycle accidents have hit home with me, too.

I've been driving since 1968 and was lucky enough to have taken my father's driving advice, which was way beyond HS driving instruction. I always use seat belts. Still, luck continues to play a major part in our lives...other drivers blow stop signs/lights and kill somebody. My wife and daughter narrowly escaped injury when her little Escort was broadsided this way. Looking at our car, one wouldn't think she'd have just walked away (after having to get out through the passenger's door). On Christmas Day 1996 a semi lost one of its 18 wheels on I-43 near Milwaukee and it crossed into the opposite lane of traffic and went through my aunt's windshield - at least her death was instant.

Most accidents, however, are preventable and it's not the .08% "drunks" causing much of the carnage. I can't believe how cavalier and just plain clueless so many drivers are today compared to the past. We don't take driving seriously enough and this is a sore point with me. Little is being done to tackle this serious problem of almost 50,000 yearly deaths and +100K serious, life altering, injuries.
 

cobb

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Here, Here, Ive blown a lot of turns myself for the simple fact I did not think I could slow down enough to take them. I just take the next exit, make a u turn and get back on the interstate or down the next block, turn around and go back. One time I was going too fast after an exit to get onto the street, so I kept on the ramp and went right back on the interstate.

I make sure I can see the road under the car behind me in my rear view mirror before I think about slowing or stopping to turn. If all I can see is the wndshield or just the driver and his steering wheel, I too will miss my turn and ride the brakes til the buy behind me backs off then proceed to slow, stop and or turn, etc.

When I started driving May of this year, I was driving for myself. Now I drive for everyone else. Meaning, I drive where they will let me vs where I want to be safely.
 

PlayboyJoeShmoe

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That is exactly right Cobb!

We can't just drive for ourselves. We MUST consider what the other IDIOTS are doing and how it will affect us!

But that all goes out the window in a high speed single vehicle crash!

I STILL feel REALLY bad for the OP, and everybody that has kids, neices, nephews etc, who are just starting out driving!
 

leukos

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Chris,

It does seem your experience is more the norm than the exception. My condolences as well. Death raises a lot of pyschological/spiritual questions and I hope you have someone in your life or at your school that can help you process what has happened and what it means. :candle:
 
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