Ryan Dunn was traveling at a speed exceeding 130 miles per hour, Pennsylvania police have concluded in their preliminary investigation into the crash that killed him early Monday morning. According to CNN, not only does the crash reconstruction investigation show an excessive rate of speed but preliminary tests indicate that the "Jackass" star was also far past the legal alcohol limit when he got behind the wheel of his black Porsche.
In a statement issued Wednesday, West Goshen Police Chief Michael Carroll said, "The initial crash reconstruction investigation determined that Mr. Dunn's vehicle was traveling between 132-140 mph at the time of the collision."
Carroll also noted that the toxicology tests conducted by the coroner indicated that Dunn's blood alcohol content was 0.196 percent, which is more than twice the state level of legal intoxication (0.8 percent). The coroner, who issued a preliminary autopsy report Tuesday, also found that the violence of the car crash left him unable to determine which killed the 34-yar-old Dunn and his 30-year-old passenger, Zachary Hartwell -- blunt force trauma or the nearly instantaneous fire that engulfed the Porsche subsequent to the crash.
West Goshen Police were called to the scene of a fiery crash outside of West Chester, Pennsylvania, at 2:30 a.m. Monday morning. The police report revealed that responding officers found a single car crashed alongside the highway and "engulfed" in flames. Dunn, who police said was driving the car, was identified by tattoos and the fact that the car was registered in his name. Hartwell was not immediately identified.
The story of the "Jackass" star's death immediately made headline news and set off a firestorm of traffic on the Internet. Besides words of condolences and support for the families of Dunn and Hartwell, the age-old argument against the dangers of drinking and driving became the topic of the day, sparked by a picture of Dunn, Hartwell, and another man drinking in a bar that was posted to Dunn's Twitter account about two hours prior to the crash.
Dunn, easily singled out from the "Jackass" crew by his signature beard, rose to fame through the MTV reality series "Jackass" and the following movie franchise. At the time of his death, he was involved in a series project on the G4 Channel called "Proving Ground," a show dedicated to recreating iconic scenes and events from various media sources (television, movies, video games) in a real world setting to see if they could be done. The show debuted on June 14. Upon news of his death, TMZ reported that the G4 Channel canceled future scheduled shows.
SOURCE
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Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit alcobuddy.com. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.
Showing posts with label Car Crashes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Car Crashes. Show all posts
Thursday, June 23, 2011
CHP says driver in fatal crash was very drunk
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Investigators say the California driver of a car that flipped, killing two passengers, had a blood-alcohol level three times the legal driving limit.
San Luis Obispo County prosecutors say 21-year-old Evan Alexander Green, a Chico State University student, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, drunken driving and driving without a license.
The California Highway Patrol says Green lost control of his 2004 Saturn automobile early Friday and rolled his car on an Avila Beach roadway, killing 21-year-old Marcus Alex Nelson of Castro Valley and 21-year-old Aaron Beaver of Eureka.
The San Luis Obispo County Tribune says two tests showed Green's blood-alcohol levels were 0.245 and 0.232 percent. California's legal limit for driving is 0.08.
Green is free on $150,000 bail pending a July 11 hearing.
SOURCE
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Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit alcobuddy.com. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.
San Luis Obispo County prosecutors say 21-year-old Evan Alexander Green, a Chico State University student, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, drunken driving and driving without a license.
The California Highway Patrol says Green lost control of his 2004 Saturn automobile early Friday and rolled his car on an Avila Beach roadway, killing 21-year-old Marcus Alex Nelson of Castro Valley and 21-year-old Aaron Beaver of Eureka.
The San Luis Obispo County Tribune says two tests showed Green's blood-alcohol levels were 0.245 and 0.232 percent. California's legal limit for driving is 0.08.
Green is free on $150,000 bail pending a July 11 hearing.
SOURCE
----
Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit alcobuddy.com. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Covina man pleads guilty in fatal drunk driving crash
A 28-year-old Covina man pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of murder that stem from a drunken driving crash, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Alan Michael McConnell faces 15 years to life in prison when he returns to court for sentencing April 22, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Telassie Dague, 22, and Renee Hardy, 20, both of Alta Loma died in the Jan. 23, 2010 crash. They were passengers in the car McConnell was driving.
McConnell lost control of the car and careened into a center divider, according to the DA's Office.
He allegedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.15 and was trying to flee from the scene of a minor collision he had with another car earlier in the evening, according to the DA's Office.
SOURCE
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Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit alcobuddy.com. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.
Alan Michael McConnell faces 15 years to life in prison when he returns to court for sentencing April 22, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Telassie Dague, 22, and Renee Hardy, 20, both of Alta Loma died in the Jan. 23, 2010 crash. They were passengers in the car McConnell was driving.
McConnell lost control of the car and careened into a center divider, according to the DA's Office.
He allegedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.15 and was trying to flee from the scene of a minor collision he had with another car earlier in the evening, according to the DA's Office.
SOURCE
----
Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit alcobuddy.com. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
'Glee's' Lea Michele's car accident: Hit by drunk drivers?
This is so not something to sing about.
"Glee" star Lea Michele was on her way home from work at 2 a.m. on Friday morning -- Rachel Berry puts in some seriously late nights -- when her vehicle was hit by another car, her rep confirms to Us. She was driving on Melrose Ave in Hollywood.
Michele pulled over and got out of the car. "Lea was hit and notified the police," says the rep. "She was not injured and is fine."
According to a source, several girls got out of the other car. "A couple of drunk girls hit her, got out of the car, giggled that she was famous, said something like 'are you drunk, too?' Then they drove off." Not cool. Michele jotted down their license plate number and told the authorities.
We're just glad no one was hurt! Also, car accidents have a tendency to be good luck for the "Glee" leading lady - she was in a particularly nasty one right before she auditioned for the role that's made her a household name.
SOURCE
"Glee" star Lea Michele was on her way home from work at 2 a.m. on Friday morning -- Rachel Berry puts in some seriously late nights -- when her vehicle was hit by another car, her rep confirms to Us. She was driving on Melrose Ave in Hollywood.
Michele pulled over and got out of the car. "Lea was hit and notified the police," says the rep. "She was not injured and is fine."
According to a source, several girls got out of the other car. "A couple of drunk girls hit her, got out of the car, giggled that she was famous, said something like 'are you drunk, too?' Then they drove off." Not cool. Michele jotted down their license plate number and told the authorities.
We're just glad no one was hurt! Also, car accidents have a tendency to be good luck for the "Glee" leading lady - she was in a particularly nasty one right before she auditioned for the role that's made her a household name.
SOURCE
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Fairfax man killed in alleged drunk driving crash
A Fairfax County man, driving on Route 1 near Fort Belvoir Monday night, was killed when another car suddenly stuck his and drove him into oncoming traffic, Fairfax police said Tuesday.
The victim was identified as Paul J. Krause, 54, of Glenbarr Court in Fairfax Station.
Police said the other driver was drunk, and after the crash, he allegedly climbed out of the car with a three-year-old boy and ran away. Police arrested the man a short distance away. He was identified as Carlos Sanchez-Ramos, 31, of Grandview Court in the Springfield area.
Sanchez-Ramos was charged with having a blood-alcohol content of between 0.15 and 0.20, which is roughly twice the legal definition of intoxication in Virginia. In addition to his second driving while intoxicated charge within five years, Sanchez-Ramos also was charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter, driving on an alcohol-related revoked license, child endangerment and two counts of felony hit and run.
Sanchez-Ramos apparently is not in the U.S. legally. A spokesman for the Fairfax County sheriff’s office said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on Sanchez-Ramos after he was checked through the federal agency’s Secure Communities program. A spokesman for the immigration agency could not immediately be reached.
Fairfax court records show that Sanchez-Ramos is a native of Honduras. Two sources familiar with the case said he had previously been deported, but ICE officials did not immediately confirm that.
Court records show that in his previous drunk-driving arrest, Sanchez-Ramos also was charged with a blood-alcohol content between 0.15 and 0.20. The breathalyzer sheet shows that Sanchez-Ramos recorded a 0.16 on Nov. 22, 2007.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum five-day jail sentence. But prosecutors agreed to reduce the blood-alcohol content to 0.14, eliminating the jail time.
The three-year-old boy with Sanchez-Ramos was not harmed. It was unclear whether the boy was his son.
Krause was driving a 2010 Ford Fusion north on Richmond Highway near Telegraph Road about 5:22 p.m., Wright said. Police said the driver of a 1994 Honda Civic traveling in the same direction apparently lost control of the Civic and struck the Fusion.
The Fusion then veered into the southbound lanes and was struck head-on by a 2010 Mercedes Benz, police said. Krause was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:44 p.m.
The driver and passenger in the Mercedes, a 77-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman, were taken to a hospital for injuries that are not considered life threatening, police said.
A 31-year-old man who was a passenger in Sanchez-Ramos’s car also received minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. He did not flee the scene, police said.
Court records show that in November 2007, Sanchez-Ramos was charged with drunk driving and driving without a license. Sanchez-Ramos pleaded guilty to both charges in January 2008. He was given a 60-day jail sentence, with all time suspended, a fine of $300 and court costs of $182, a fairly standard sentence in Fairfax for first-time drunk drivers. He was also fined $250, and $11 in court costs, for failing to have a license. He paid the $743 combined total in fines and fees in April 2009.
SOURCE
The victim was identified as Paul J. Krause, 54, of Glenbarr Court in Fairfax Station.
Police said the other driver was drunk, and after the crash, he allegedly climbed out of the car with a three-year-old boy and ran away. Police arrested the man a short distance away. He was identified as Carlos Sanchez-Ramos, 31, of Grandview Court in the Springfield area.
Sanchez-Ramos was charged with having a blood-alcohol content of between 0.15 and 0.20, which is roughly twice the legal definition of intoxication in Virginia. In addition to his second driving while intoxicated charge within five years, Sanchez-Ramos also was charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter, driving on an alcohol-related revoked license, child endangerment and two counts of felony hit and run.
Sanchez-Ramos apparently is not in the U.S. legally. A spokesman for the Fairfax County sheriff’s office said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on Sanchez-Ramos after he was checked through the federal agency’s Secure Communities program. A spokesman for the immigration agency could not immediately be reached.
Fairfax court records show that Sanchez-Ramos is a native of Honduras. Two sources familiar with the case said he had previously been deported, but ICE officials did not immediately confirm that.
Court records show that in his previous drunk-driving arrest, Sanchez-Ramos also was charged with a blood-alcohol content between 0.15 and 0.20. The breathalyzer sheet shows that Sanchez-Ramos recorded a 0.16 on Nov. 22, 2007.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum five-day jail sentence. But prosecutors agreed to reduce the blood-alcohol content to 0.14, eliminating the jail time.
The three-year-old boy with Sanchez-Ramos was not harmed. It was unclear whether the boy was his son.
Krause was driving a 2010 Ford Fusion north on Richmond Highway near Telegraph Road about 5:22 p.m., Wright said. Police said the driver of a 1994 Honda Civic traveling in the same direction apparently lost control of the Civic and struck the Fusion.
The Fusion then veered into the southbound lanes and was struck head-on by a 2010 Mercedes Benz, police said. Krause was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:44 p.m.
The driver and passenger in the Mercedes, a 77-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman, were taken to a hospital for injuries that are not considered life threatening, police said.
A 31-year-old man who was a passenger in Sanchez-Ramos’s car also received minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. He did not flee the scene, police said.
Court records show that in November 2007, Sanchez-Ramos was charged with drunk driving and driving without a license. Sanchez-Ramos pleaded guilty to both charges in January 2008. He was given a 60-day jail sentence, with all time suspended, a fine of $300 and court costs of $182, a fairly standard sentence in Fairfax for first-time drunk drivers. He was also fined $250, and $11 in court costs, for failing to have a license. He paid the $743 combined total in fines and fees in April 2009.
SOURCE
Friday, February 11, 2011
Drunk driver sentenced in Capitol Hill woman's death
A 34-year-old man who was drunk when he struck and killed a 91-year-old woman on Capitol Hill last year was sentenced Friday to 10 1/2 years in prison.
Shawn Shipp, a convicted sex offender with a lengthy criminal record, pleaded guilty last month to vehicular homicide in connection with the death of Marie Fite on May 3.
After backing over the elderly woman, Shipp tried to pull her out from underneath his truck. Shipp walked away from his truck as sirens approached, according to charging papers. He returned a short time later and was arrested.
Shipp had a blood-alcohol level of 0.16, twice the legal limit, after the crash, according to police. Shipp denied being drunk but said that he had taken a 500-milligram Vicodin pill several hours earlier, according to charges.
Shipp also has convictions for first-degree child rape, twice failing to register as a sex offender, assault, motor-vehicle theft, drug possession, vehicle prowling, drunken driving, driving with a suspended license and speeding 28 miles over the posted limit, according to court records.
Fite lived in the same Capitol Hill apartment building for more than 30 years. Even as she grew older she went on daily walks and bragged about her independence, according to her friends and family.
SOURCE
Shawn Shipp, a convicted sex offender with a lengthy criminal record, pleaded guilty last month to vehicular homicide in connection with the death of Marie Fite on May 3.
After backing over the elderly woman, Shipp tried to pull her out from underneath his truck. Shipp walked away from his truck as sirens approached, according to charging papers. He returned a short time later and was arrested.
Shipp had a blood-alcohol level of 0.16, twice the legal limit, after the crash, according to police. Shipp denied being drunk but said that he had taken a 500-milligram Vicodin pill several hours earlier, according to charges.
Shipp also has convictions for first-degree child rape, twice failing to register as a sex offender, assault, motor-vehicle theft, drug possession, vehicle prowling, drunken driving, driving with a suspended license and speeding 28 miles over the posted limit, according to court records.
Fite lived in the same Capitol Hill apartment building for more than 30 years. Even as she grew older she went on daily walks and bragged about her independence, according to her friends and family.
SOURCE
Former Smashing Pumpkins bassist arrested for drunk driving, outstanding warrants
It was not a week to remember for former Smashing Pumpkins bassist D’arcy Wretzky. MLive.com reports that the 42-year-old Wretzky was arrested early Monday in South Haven, Michigan on suspicion of drunken driving after crashing her 2002 Audi sedan into a retaining wall.
Upon her arrest, Wretzky was also discovered to have had several outstanding bench warrants, stemming from her failure to appear in court on an original charge of animals running loose. TMZ reports that “several horses on her farm broke free… and ran amok in her town” in 2009, but that Wretzky failed to pay the ticket and missed four separate court appearances.
Wretzky was sentenced to six days in prison for her failure to appear in court, and she’ll remain in prison until February 14th. She then must appear in court on February 22nd for arraignment on the felony misdemeanor drunk-driving charge.
SOURCE
Upon her arrest, Wretzky was also discovered to have had several outstanding bench warrants, stemming from her failure to appear in court on an original charge of animals running loose. TMZ reports that “several horses on her farm broke free… and ran amok in her town” in 2009, but that Wretzky failed to pay the ticket and missed four separate court appearances.
Wretzky was sentenced to six days in prison for her failure to appear in court, and she’ll remain in prison until February 14th. She then must appear in court on February 22nd for arraignment on the felony misdemeanor drunk-driving charge.
SOURCE
Monday, December 20, 2010
Toronto cop faces drunk-driving charges
A Toronto Police officer faces alcohol-related charges after his car crashed into a pole.
Force spokesman Mark Pugash said Const. Ravneet Dhillon, 25, was arrested following the single-vehicle collision Saturday on Dundas St. W. Dhillion was off duty at the time.
The 14 Division officer, who lives in Brampton, has been with Toronto Police since 2008.
Dhillon is charged with impaired driving and operation of a motor vehicle while having more than the legal limit of alcohol in his system.
He was ordered to appear in an Old City Hall court on Feb. 7.
SOURCE
Force spokesman Mark Pugash said Const. Ravneet Dhillon, 25, was arrested following the single-vehicle collision Saturday on Dundas St. W. Dhillion was off duty at the time.
The 14 Division officer, who lives in Brampton, has been with Toronto Police since 2008.
Dhillon is charged with impaired driving and operation of a motor vehicle while having more than the legal limit of alcohol in his system.
He was ordered to appear in an Old City Hall court on Feb. 7.
SOURCE
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Safe Teen Driving Promoted Through New Programs
Car crashes account for the No. 1 way teens die. Several driving programs in Broward aim to curb that statistic.
BY EILEEN SOLER
SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD
If the number of teenagers killed by disease were as epidemic as the number of teens who die in car crashes, millions would pledge to find a cure.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that motor vehicle crashes, the No. 1 cause of death for teenagers, account for one in three teenage deaths nationwide.
Last year in Florida, 153 teens were killed in car crashes. So far this year, the teen death toll is 116.
During the past three weeks in Broward and Miami-Dade, five teens -- three age 17 and two age 18 -- died in automobile wrecks.
``We need legislation, but while we wait for that to happen we have to teach defensive driving,'' said Michael Rouse, Toyota's vice president of philanthropy, at a recent Toyota Driving Expectations defensive driving weekend for teens.
About 300 licensed teens and 400 parents turned out for 12 free driving sessions in the parking lot of Outdoor World in Dania Beach.
Toyota put the teens behind the wheel on courses that required them to do wrong so they could learn how to make it right.
With professional drivers in the passenger seat, the teens weaved through a slalom, drove at high speeds then slammed on the brakes, and allowed themselves to be distracted by cellphones, water bottles and other things.
``The biggest issue is distracted driving. Kids think they are invincible, so they do many things when they should be just driving,'' said Karen Polan, the program manager.
Of 33,808 traffic fatalities last year, the U.S. Department of Transportation blamed 5,474 on distracted drivers and called the problem ``an epidemic.'' Cellphone use was blamed for 995 of the deaths.
While kids learned safe driving, parents learned about common teen driving mistakes and got tips on how to be role models, coaches and mentors for good driving habits.
``Our goal is one goal only. That is to save lives,'' Polan said.
On Tuesday, 400 teenagers met in the auditorium of West Broward High School in Pembroke Pines to mark National Teen Driving Safety Week. The assembly, sponsored by the Broward school district and Florida Highway Patrol, gave kids a chance to hear the facts behind teenage crashes and the heartache it leaves behind.
Kyle Dailey, curriculum specialist for Broward Schools Driver Education Program, said teens are inundated with information and warnings about safe driving: Billboards, television commercials, school assemblies and their parents provide constant reminders.
Broward Schools offers free driving classes to about 9,000 teens per year at the county's 15 public high schools. Registration for the next session begins Nov. 1.
``But some of you listen and some of you don't,'' Daily told the teens. ``We're hoping that you all hear us so when it comes to making a crucial decision, you make the right decision.''
The message hit home for some students when Arielle Konen, president of the school's Key Club, recalled the death by car crash last year of West Broward High senior Christina Chaiken, 17.
``It's a real problem that we all have to deal with, like it or not,'' Konen told the students.
Some listened with heads in their hands and tears in their eyes when Donna Uzzi of Coral Springs spoke. Uzzi's son, Anthony Almonte, 16, died Nov. 15, 2009, after homecoming night at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Also killed in the crash were two of his classmates, Robert Nugent and Sean Maxey, both 16. One friend survived.
So far this year, teen deaths by car crash is showing a decline, but John Pisula of State Farm Insurance said much can happen before the year ends.
``Fall is the deadliest season for teen drivers and October is the worst month of all. Kids are back to school showing off their cars, we have homecoming and football games . . . guys soup up their cars, put the seat back and blast their stereo,'' Pisula said.
Pisula said he was struck personally by the tragic deaths of Kevin O'Connell and Ian Guckian, both 18, who were killed in an early-morning crash Oct. 5 in Miramar. Pisula is a friend of the parents of the boys, who were best friends.
Miramar police said the driver lost control of the speeding car, hit a tree, went airborne and slammed into a house. It was unclear who was driving.
Robert Schnell of Parkland, a retired Broward Sheriff's Office deputy and volunteer ambulance driver whose son, Michael Schnell, 17, attended the Toyota event, said a course in teen defensive driving should be mandatory. Michael's mother, Cindy Schnell, agreed.
``The more teenagers learn, the less chances they will take and the more careful they will be -- the less foolish they will be,'' Cindy Schnell said.
SOURCE
BY EILEEN SOLER
SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD
If the number of teenagers killed by disease were as epidemic as the number of teens who die in car crashes, millions would pledge to find a cure.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that motor vehicle crashes, the No. 1 cause of death for teenagers, account for one in three teenage deaths nationwide.
Last year in Florida, 153 teens were killed in car crashes. So far this year, the teen death toll is 116.
During the past three weeks in Broward and Miami-Dade, five teens -- three age 17 and two age 18 -- died in automobile wrecks.
``We need legislation, but while we wait for that to happen we have to teach defensive driving,'' said Michael Rouse, Toyota's vice president of philanthropy, at a recent Toyota Driving Expectations defensive driving weekend for teens.
About 300 licensed teens and 400 parents turned out for 12 free driving sessions in the parking lot of Outdoor World in Dania Beach.
Toyota put the teens behind the wheel on courses that required them to do wrong so they could learn how to make it right.
With professional drivers in the passenger seat, the teens weaved through a slalom, drove at high speeds then slammed on the brakes, and allowed themselves to be distracted by cellphones, water bottles and other things.
``The biggest issue is distracted driving. Kids think they are invincible, so they do many things when they should be just driving,'' said Karen Polan, the program manager.
Of 33,808 traffic fatalities last year, the U.S. Department of Transportation blamed 5,474 on distracted drivers and called the problem ``an epidemic.'' Cellphone use was blamed for 995 of the deaths.
While kids learned safe driving, parents learned about common teen driving mistakes and got tips on how to be role models, coaches and mentors for good driving habits.
``Our goal is one goal only. That is to save lives,'' Polan said.
On Tuesday, 400 teenagers met in the auditorium of West Broward High School in Pembroke Pines to mark National Teen Driving Safety Week. The assembly, sponsored by the Broward school district and Florida Highway Patrol, gave kids a chance to hear the facts behind teenage crashes and the heartache it leaves behind.
Kyle Dailey, curriculum specialist for Broward Schools Driver Education Program, said teens are inundated with information and warnings about safe driving: Billboards, television commercials, school assemblies and their parents provide constant reminders.
Broward Schools offers free driving classes to about 9,000 teens per year at the county's 15 public high schools. Registration for the next session begins Nov. 1.
``But some of you listen and some of you don't,'' Daily told the teens. ``We're hoping that you all hear us so when it comes to making a crucial decision, you make the right decision.''
The message hit home for some students when Arielle Konen, president of the school's Key Club, recalled the death by car crash last year of West Broward High senior Christina Chaiken, 17.
``It's a real problem that we all have to deal with, like it or not,'' Konen told the students.
Some listened with heads in their hands and tears in their eyes when Donna Uzzi of Coral Springs spoke. Uzzi's son, Anthony Almonte, 16, died Nov. 15, 2009, after homecoming night at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Also killed in the crash were two of his classmates, Robert Nugent and Sean Maxey, both 16. One friend survived.
So far this year, teen deaths by car crash is showing a decline, but John Pisula of State Farm Insurance said much can happen before the year ends.
``Fall is the deadliest season for teen drivers and October is the worst month of all. Kids are back to school showing off their cars, we have homecoming and football games . . . guys soup up their cars, put the seat back and blast their stereo,'' Pisula said.
Pisula said he was struck personally by the tragic deaths of Kevin O'Connell and Ian Guckian, both 18, who were killed in an early-morning crash Oct. 5 in Miramar. Pisula is a friend of the parents of the boys, who were best friends.
Miramar police said the driver lost control of the speeding car, hit a tree, went airborne and slammed into a house. It was unclear who was driving.
Robert Schnell of Parkland, a retired Broward Sheriff's Office deputy and volunteer ambulance driver whose son, Michael Schnell, 17, attended the Toyota event, said a course in teen defensive driving should be mandatory. Michael's mother, Cindy Schnell, agreed.
``The more teenagers learn, the less chances they will take and the more careful they will be -- the less foolish they will be,'' Cindy Schnell said.
SOURCE
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