Ellington

At least one student from University Christian School has been killed in a one-car crash in Rankin County, and another is in critical condition at University Medical Center, sources say. The students were in a white Chevrolet Trailblazer on Scenic Drive that was traveling at a high rate of speed when it ran off the road and then flipped. A third student also went to UMC, but the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Previous Comments

ID

97641

Comment

This is very sad...a week before Christmas. So many kids think that they are invincible and just don't understand the consequences that their actions can bring to themselves and others. It happens all too often. I personally think that 16 is too young for most children to have full driving priveleges. My thoughts and prayers and with the families and friends of these kids.

Author

ellen

Date

2007-12-19T10:57:37-06:00

ID

97642

Comment

I share your thoughts and feeling, eilen. These kids must learn that cars can be killers if not handled appropriately. Things can happen, even with your best effort; therefor, all caution must be followed as it relates to speed. My prayers and concern are given during this period of grief and loss.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-12-19T11:59:28-06:00

ID

97643

Comment

Yes, it is so tragic. My heart breaks for the families. As for teen driving safety ... we really need a public-information campaign both about putting kids in dangerous cars and about the examples parents are setting for bad driving. Right now, I'm seeing the worst driving I've ever seen on the roadways around here, and most people are on cell phones while speeding and tailgating. And I'm hearing that teens TEXT-MESSAGE while they're driving—which has to be one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. Also, many parents don't seem to get that putting teens (or themselves) in many SUVs is a really bad idea because of the rollover dangers. They think that because they are big vehicles, then they are safer than in small cars, and that gives a false sense of security. Look at this about the Chevy Trailblazer, for instance: Chevy TrailBlazer have had a horrible record in rollovers & roof crush related deaths, In fact in March of 2005, Reuters News Service declared " GM's Blazer Ranked Deadliest Car on U.S. Roadways." The Chevy TrailBlazer and Chevrolet Blazers not only has a tendency to roll over, but when the rollover occurs the roof pillars or roof supports seem to bend and fold down in the roof crush or roof failure. When this happens, the driver and occupants in a Blazer or Trail Blazer suffer the consequences. When the Blazer's roof collapses, the survival space for the occupants is quickly compromised. Blazer roof crush / roof collapse from a rollover can often lead to serious head and spinal cord injuries, closed head injuries, paralysis and even death.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-12-19T12:17:59-06:00

ID

97644

Comment

And I'm hearing that teens TEXT-MESSAGE while they're driving—which has to be one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. That's what supposedly lead to a horrible car crash in New York State that killed five teens earlier this year. Talking on the phone while driving is bad enough (I'm guilty of that), but text messaging is really stupid.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-12-21T00:05:45-06:00