• 09
  • February
    2011

After a lengthy investigation, Anniston police believe they know the cause of a tragic single-car accident in November that killed a high school student and left two other teens badly injured and fighting for their lives. Officials cited speeding and reckless driving as the reasons for the tragedy. The fatal accident occurred on November 20 of last year.

The police report says that the 17-year-old driver was travelling at a speed of 65-70 miles per hour (30 mph above the limit) when he intentionally pulled the parking brake. The rear wheels of the Nissan Maxima locked, causing the car to slide out of control. Not surprisingly, the driver was unable to correct the spin-out. The Maxima careened off the road and slammed into a steel light pole.

The teen driver and a friend riding in the back seat of the car were seriously injured. Tragically, a friend riding in the front seat was killed. He was a high school junior.

The police base their conclusion on skid marks on the road and similar data. They conclude that the total time elapsed between the driver pulling the parking brake and the car slamming into the pole was four seconds.

Criminal charges may be filed in relation to the fatal accident

Prosecutors are review to determine whether to present the case to a grand jury for possible criminal charges against the teen driver. Alcohol or drugs were not a factor in the crash, so the decision is not an easy one.

The deceased boy's family could bring a wrongful death claim against the driver and would likely name the driver's parents as parties, too. The passenger who survived the auto accident could also decide to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the driver.

Source: The Anniston Star, "Police: Passenger's death in November accident on Quintard due to driver's actions," Cameron Steele, February 5, 2011