Three Gainesville area teenagers are lucky to be alive. The three were riding in a Saturn around 6 p.m. when the vehicle hit a tree in Newberry. The accident happened at the intersection of Southwest 15th Avenue and Southwest 226 Street when the car went off the north side of the road and then the driver lost control of the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol reports that the driver, a 17-year-old from Gainesville, is in critical condition. Also riding in the car was another teen from Gainesville and one teen from Newberry, both 17 and both with serious injuries. The FHP says the vehicle was traveling at a “high rate of speed.” Two teens were ejected from the vehicle.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of these young men and their families for what they are enduring. One of the injured teens is the son of an Alachua County sheriff’s deputy.
Accident Statistics
According to Florida Highway Patrol accident statistics for 2008, there were 4,415 auto accidents in Alachua County, with 308 of them alcohol-related, and 34 fatalities. In all of Florida in 2008, FHP reports there were 243,342 traffic accidents, and 2,764 fatalities.
Accident Causes and Liability
The Florida Highway Patrol reports that charges are pending in this accident. If it is determined that the driver was exceeding the speed limit and driving recklessly, he and his parents could be held civilly and criminally liable for the driver negligence. Parents often do not realize that their minor child’s accident, even though he is a teen and driving, could impact them financially for the rest of their lives.
If the parents insure and own the vehicle involved in the accident, some liability coverage should extend to the child, unless he or she does not live with the parents. If the parent signs the application for a license for a driver under the age of 18, they become legally responsible for the child’s actions under Fl. S 322.09. A Florida vehicle accident attorney will be able to tell you when the minor’s parents will be held responsible for paying medical bills of those injured in the crash.
Source:http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100412/ARTICLES/100419868/1004/LIVING?Title=FHP-names-three-teens-injured-in-Newberry-crash
