Teen accused of using drugs before fatal collision

A teenage driver has been accused of taking opiates before a fatal collision. According to an Aug. 18 news article, the 17-year-old woman had been driving at over 100 mph when she collided with a home. Inside, two people, a 17-year-old woman and 9-year-old girl, were struck and killed.

The crash occurred when the teen left the roadway while speeding. She was able to miss several objects in the way, but her vehicle went airborne. It was then that she hit the home. She hit the home so hard that she nearly drove through both sides of the structure.

Inside, one victim was trapped under the front driver’s side of the vehicle. The girls’ mother was taken to the hospital by helicopter with multiple serious injuries including an item protruding from her chest. The family home has significant structural damage.

The teen allegedly had drugs in her system at the time of the crash, the police reported. She now faces 10 felony charges including two for reckless homicide. The teen is being tried as an adult, a fact that her defense attorney would like to see changed, since there are more rehabilitation options for juveniles. Detectives discovered that she had been driving around 107 mph at the time of the crash. When they gave her a drug test, she tested positive for opiates in her system.

Crashes like this are avoidable, and that’s what makes them so tragic. If you’re struck by a dangerous driver, you can file a claim to make sure you’re fairly compensated for what you’ve been through.

Source: USA Today, “Teen driver accused of taking opiates, slams car into house, kills 2 kids, faces 10 felonies,” Joseph Paul, Aug. 18, 2017