A Texas teenager who was well-known and loved in his high school community was planning to walk across the stage to receive his diploma on a recent Friday night. The teen was to graduate with more than 70 of his fellow students. Sadly, he never arrived at the ceremony because he was killed in a motor vehicle collision hours earlier.
The graduating senior was traveling in a vehicle with another teen, who was reportedly behind the wheel at the time. Following a preliminary investigation, police believe the teen driver was acting under the influence of alcohol. He lost control of steering, and the vehicle careened off the road and into a ditch, then slammed into a fence.
Students and faculty honor victim’s memory at graduation
Several people spoke in the decedent’s honor as graduates, teachers, family and friends gathered for the ceremony. One student who spoke had known the teen for more than 14 years. The speaker said that their fallen classmate was friends with everyone and it was fun to spend time with him.
There is no replacement for the loss of human life. When it is a teenager or child who dies, grief is intensified. If someone drinks underage and gets behind the wheel of a car to drive, then causes a collision that results in a fatality, he or she may be held responsible, just as an adult would in similar circumstances. An immediate family member can file a wrongful death claim to seek restitution when a loved one’s death has been caused by negligence or reckless behavior. The claim could be filed against a teenage driver as well as any separate owner of the vehicle involved in the crash.
