[♥]

Great talented teen dies.

My kid's friend died in a freak car accident. So talented. They're both attending the same school this fall and now she's gone because of a freak car accident. Just want to say if you're a young driver be a little more observant and if you're a parent remind your kids to focus when they drive. This might not have been avoided, but you never know.

She had a music CD in the works - very talented. You can hear a couple of tracks at the Laura Brooke MySpace page.

God bless, Laura, and we'll never forget you.

[red rocket]

Seems to me the fault lies entirely with the 67‑year-old SUV driver who hit the car your kid's friend was in. Old people + big cars = recipe for disaster.

[design219]

It doesn't say if she was wearing a seat belt. Odd that none of the others in that vehicle were seriously hurt.

Very sad.

[IceEnclosure]

The CD was gonna be called "Right Place/Wrong Time"?

damn.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by red rocket 

Old people + big cars = recipe for disaster.

That's not a good statement to make. Impaired drivers, whatever their impairment and however they acquired it, are dangerous in any vehicle. Older people who do not know (or don't acknowledge) that they're not as sharp as needed for driving are only one group. Studies show (here's one) that most people who use their cell phones while driving are as impaired as if they'd been driving while intoxicated. Soccer Mom driving here behemoth while chatting with her pals is a dangerous driver. Sleepy Pete who just worked a double shift is a dangerous driver, because sleep deprivation has the same impairing effect as alcohol.

My father is 75 years old and still drives. Quite well, I might add. He's also together enough that if my sister (who lives near him) commented on his capabilities, he'd get himself checked out. Unfortunately, not all older adults-even those much younger than my dad-are smart enough, ego-less enough, or un-stubborn enough to do likewise. This is indeed a major problem. But putting a specific age limit on driving is stupid too. I am within sight of 50, and I think my level of experience makes me a pretty good driver. But I would in no way feel slighted if my state were to actually require regular tests for people above a certain age (that age based on science and when most people start to be impaired by age-related issues). In fact, I wouldn't mind if EVERYBODY had to take a test to retain their licenses regularly.

Unfortunately, too many drivers overjudge their capabilities until some tragedy occurs-a tragedy that they could have avoided by one course of action or another.


♥, my condolences to your child and to Laura's family.

[Gator Lager]

WOW what a voice. Very sad.


from here. http://www.sun-herald.com
A 14-year-old Wellington girl died Saturday evening after she sustained severe head injuries in a rollover accident.

The Florida Highway Patrol and Charlotte County Fire/EMS responded to a two-vehicle collision on Bermont Road, near the Glades County Line, at 6:09 p.m.

According to the report, both vehicles were traveling through a heavy rainstorm toward one another when the 2005 Chevrolet SUV driven by Isidro Jacinto Llerena Falcon drifted across the dotted yellow line. The 67-year-old Miami man was unable to correct the vehicle and struck the side of Emily Buonpastore's 2003 Toyota sedan.

Buonpastore's vehicle overturned on the shoulder before it came to rest on its roof.

Laura B. Buonpastore, who was sitting in the right rear passenger seat, was pronounced dead at 7:11 p.m. by Charlotte County EMS. Emily Buonpastore, 19, was airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital for serious injuries. Two other passengers were taken to Charlotte Regional Medical Center for minor injuries.

All of the occupants in both vehicles wore seat belts.

Falcon and his passenger were not injured. He was cited for failure to maintain a single lane.

[♥]

It's such a shame.

My kid is pretty upset about it.

We'll have to have a memorial for her, that's all, so the kids can all get some closure.

[bstone]

Wear your seat belts. Please.

[♥]

She wore hers. She was in the back seat and the roof was crushed down on top of her.

I want to say that I hope that not only do all of you wear your seat belts, but that you also drive with your lights on. I don't know about where you are, but here in Florida the tarmac tends to blur with the heat waves especially if you're in a car that is grey or blue and approximates the color of the road. Those headlights tend to let someone know that the blurriness on the horizon is a car zooming towards them.

[IceEnclosure]

I used to find myself driving often while extra-tired. I recall quite a few times nodding off behind the wheel. No Good. For some reason it doesn't happen anymore, or maybe I'm just more conscious of it and try not to put myself in such situations. It was always after working a long, double shift at work or somesuch.