14 year old dies in car crash

[motion]

A good friend of my 14 year old son's and mine was lost this weekend. My son, Josh, spent a lot of time with this girl and her older sister, since I was friends with their aunt, who was the only responsible person in their life. We drifted apart and haven't seen them for a few years.

We went to the site of the crash this afternoon and looked at the landscaping carnage, the black tire marks going up the curb, the yellow police tape and the memorials. It was a good time to talk to him about speeding, alcohol and drugs. He was very sober. I hope some of it sunk in. Seems like a harsh way to teach kids a lesson, but I think its necessary.

---------------------------------

August 30, 2004

ORANGE COUNTY
Girl Killed in Laguna Niguel Crash Identified
__
From a Times Staff Writer

A 14-year-old Mission Viejo girl who died in a car accident was identified by the Orange County coroner Sunday as Breanna Moore.

She and three others were passengers in a car driven Saturday morning by James Dean Ericsson, 18, said Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Hans Strand.

Ericsson, who was speeding, hit a curb, careened across the road and knocked over a small tree, Strand said. The car was found at Niguel Road and Marina Hills Drive in Laguna Niguel.

Ericsson was removed from the car with the Jaws of Life, and is in critical condition at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo.

Investigators found an empty liquor flask and signs of marijuana use in the car.

The others also were taken to Mission Hospital.

Justin McNally of Laguna Niguel and Matt Rogers of San Juan Capistrano, both 20, were in fair condition. A 14-year-old Aliso Viejo girl was in stable condition at Children's Hospital of Orange County's facility at Mission Hospital.

[Eric Mckenna]

Sorry to hear of this newsRich,
.. I can only hop that when I have kids of my own they will listen to me about being safe and live a long life..
I am sure you have a great son and he'll listen you..

Eric

[vash]

what a waste.....hope it burned a message into your kid's brain.

[B D]

Very sad, I hope we all learn from this. I heard this was the second crash related to street racing in Laguna Niguel in the past two weeks. I also heard that someone was injured sleeping inside their home when debris from one of the crashes hit him in his sleep.

[MRM]

My business is largely car accidents. I have found that if you do three things it is almost impossible to die in a car accident: 1) wear your seat belt; 2) Don't drive with anyone who has been drinking; and 3) No crazy speeding. Modified rules would include not getting hit by anyone who violated rules number 2 and 3.

Cars are so safe these days that they can take a lot of abuse that barring a freak set of facts that no one could predict, you can really take a pretty hard hit before getting injured in a way you can't recover from.

But if someone has been drinking, all bets are off. And how many times does it seem that the passenger is hurt worse than the driver. A lesson for us all.

[motion]

BD, yes there was another street racing accident this weekend. Kids in an Aztek of all things. A couple are critical. These things happen often here in Laguna Niguel for some reason. About once every few months. Too much for a small town. It is brutal.

[concentric]

Originally posted by motion
BD, yes there was another street racing accident this weekend. Kids in an Aztek of all things. A couple are critical. These things happen often here in Laguna Niguel for some reason. About once every few months. Too much for a small town. It is brutal.

Too much money, too little to do, too many drugs.
OC sure is a weird place to live if you're young. Same stuff was going on 10 years ago when I graduated high school. It's sad.

Young 14 year old girls probably shouldn't be hanging out with 3 older guys and drinking/smoking. Parents too lazy to get off their asses and teach their kids responsibility.

I'm really glad to see you care, motion.

Jason

[rfuerst911sc]

Sorry to hear the story,the other day here in Orlando two young men were speeding in a car,not wearing seat belts,lost control and both were ejected.The one boy flew thru the air onto and thru someones house roof!! They had to pull his body out of the attic,very sad as both passed away..We all were young and fearless,teach your kids the best you can,tell them you care for them and hope for the best,unfortunately we all know someone that has gone thru this,it is tragic for all involved.

[1973911s]

Rich,

That is traggic, and sorry to hear it happened. I am sure it will stay with you son for a long time. I lost a friend in High School, who hit a bump at some crazy speed while it was raining, and drinking. His dad had just bought him a new 300Z. I think about it everytime I go over Garfield and see the pole he hit.

I hope we all think next time we want to hear our car sing to us.

Michael

[JP911]

Richard-
I'm really sorry to hear about this. My condolences to the family.
-Jon

[cegerer]

MRM - good points. I might add 1 more: maximum of 1 passenger in the car with new drivers. Distractions are as lethal as boos and drugs for young drivers. Michigan is attempting to pass such a law right now.

Motion - unfortunately, I'm not sure it is possible for kids to grasp the reality of car crashes and other dangers until they experience it close up ......

[trj911]

Richard- You are right. Times like that are great opportunities to teach a real life lesson to our kids. I'll bet they never forget it.

[ZAMIRZ]

Well Mr. Ericsson's going to the slammer for a real long time, he'll have plenty of one-on-one with bubba to think this one over. Hopefully he'll get life without parole, god forbid he gets out, he'll kill another 14-year-old girl. BTW, what's a 14-year-old girl doing in an 18-year-old guys car? Statutory rapist?

On a side note, the streets of Laguna Niguel really beg this kind of behavior from stupid and irresponsible drivers. They're long, freshly paved, going over rolling hills with shallow grades and soft curves. My aunt lives in one of the track homes right off of St. Christopher and Golden Lantern and there are always fatal wrecks in that stretch.

[Randy Webb]

I am very sorry to hear of this. I think you did the right thing even tho it was surely hard to do, especially now.


OTOH, I don't see a life sentence for it either. But the 18 year old will surely serve quite some time in prison.

[mwbaum]

"Modified rules would include not getting hit by anyone who violated rules number 2 and 3."

That is the problem.....we can be careful and still be taken out by an idiot. Defensive driving and staying alert is sooo important. I cant count how many accidents I have avoided by dodging/swerving to avoid being hit by idiots. Gotta stay sharp and as Jim Morrison said......

"Keep your eyes on the road , your hands upon the wheel"

[DonDavis]

Truly sad and heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Now, what the heck are two 14yr old girls doing with an 18 and two 20 yr olds? My first order of business would be to get that answer. Maybe they were family friends out on an innocent drive. It's quite possible. But what's with the 'liqor flask and marijuana evidence'?

One of my daughter's good friends (16 yr old) was driving with her 10 yr old brother this past Sunday and was t-boned my a guy. The boy died and she is in serious condition. The boy was a student at my son's school. When I took him to school (kindergarten) this morning he asked why the flag was at half-mast. Sad, sad stuff.

Be careful out there.

[Don 944 LA]

I used to live in that area. I went to Dana Hills High. There were a few fatalities from crashes when I was there. Many parents just let the kids do anything. Most were rich and gave the kids free reign and fancy / fast cars..

very sad

[techweenie]

From what I heard on the news, the kids were 'street racing' at 3:45 AM in a Pontiac Aztek (!!!??)

I'm sure everyone here agrees allowing a 14 year old girl to be out at 3 AM is asking for all kinds of trouble.

[motion]

That was a separate incident, techie.

[techweenie]

Originally posted by motion
That was a separate incident, techie.

Jeez, how many teenagers have died in Orange County traffic accidents in the last 3 days?!