Most Californians understand the way things can go when teenagers get together. After all, everyone was once part of this age group themselves at one time, and many people have raised teens since then. Unfortunately, when young people gather, sometimes, one or more make a poor decision and what begins as a good time turns into a tragedy.
SUV crashes into light pole
Recently, a teenage driver died and two passengers were seriously injured when their vehicle crashed into a light pole. The horrific crash happened on a Saturday afternoon in the Sharon Heights neighborhood of Menlo Park. According to authorities, when Menlo Park firefighters arrived on the scene, they found two people trapped inside an SUV, while a third victim had been ejected from the vehicle and lay near the light pole. The vehicle lay upside down nearby. Responders had to use the Jaws of Life to rescue the teens in the SUV.
Driver dies in hospital, passengers seriously injured
All three victims were transported to a hospital, two with life-threatening injuries, and the third with serious, but injuries not considered life-threatening. One of the victims died two days later from injuries suffered in the crash; police have identified him as the 16-year-old driver of the vehicle. The injured passengers have been identified as a 16-year-old male and a 15-year-old female. Investigators are looking into the cause of the crash, including whether drugs or alcohol were involved. Reportedly, a witness saw the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed prior to the crash.
Most people can relate to the experience of being young and having fun with friends. Still, when a young person dies or becomes seriously injured, likely as a result of reckless behavior, many people may feel someone should be held responsible for such a tragic outcome. In California, as in all other states, victims of such situations or their surviving family members have the right to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney about possibilities for restitution. In cases where the person responsible did not survive, his or her estate or any other party with ownership interest in the vehicle could be held accountable.