Four Teenage Deaths In Central Alabama: Police Urge Parents To Talk With Teenage Drivers
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: November 24, 2010
Since Friday, four teenagers have been killed in car crashes in Central Alabama. The wreckage is a sobering warning to teens and parents.
Giving has been replaced with grieving for many students this Thanksgiving break.
"Teenagers don't expect to lose someone their own age, and many times they've never experienced death at this age and don't know how to handle it or what to do," said Jennifer McCombs, a Hoover High School counselor.
Many students have spoken with counselors or gathered beside roadways to handle the loss of their friends- 17 year old Cody Watson of Weaver, 15 year old Natalie Hurst of Hoover, 16 year old Labaron Sanders of Bessemer and 17 year old Joshua Sparks of Bessemer.
The four teens and three others were injured in separate accidents in Anniston, Hoover and Bessemer. Officials say all the accidents involved speeding.
"We can't stress enough that parents need to stay on top of teaching their children how to drive. It doesn't stop when they get that license. All they did was drive around the block and pass a test. They need to continuously learn to drive," said Corporal Steve Smith, Alabama State Trooper.
Smith says parents need to also be aware of new driving restrictions passed this summer. For new drivers, that means no passengers, no driving after midnight and no distractions.
"All of these distractions texting, talking on the phone, worrying about whose in the care, those are distractions that need to be taken out," said Smith.
McCombs suggest beginning the conversation with this....
"Let's talk about driving. Let's talk about what you're doing on the road, how you're thinking through decisions," she said.
