Teen driver 'critical' and boy, 16, hurt after car hits tree in Silverdale (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Teen driver 'critical' and boy, 16, hurt after car hits tree in Silverdale
11:50am Wednesday 28th November 2012 in News
By Steven Bell, Senior Reporter
A TEENAGE driver was left fighting for his life after a car crashed into a tree in Silverdale last night (Tuesday).
The 17-year-old male's condition is described as ‘critical but stable’ after the crash involving a Peugeot 106 on Storrs Lane at around 8.25pm.
He sustained serious head injuries, was taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and later transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital.
A boy aged 16 who was travelling in the back of the car suffered a broken leg, while three other passengers escaped unhurt.
Both injured youths are from Lancaster.
Lancashire Police said the driver somehow lost control and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
The road was closed for three hours for collision investigation work and to recover the vehicle.
Sergeant Malcolm Bell, of Lancashire Police, said: “An investigation is underway to establish the circumstances surrounding this collision.
“If anybody witnessed it then I would ask them to contact police.
“I am also keen to speak with anybody who thinks they may have seen the car being driven in the area prior to the collision.”
Witnesses or anybody with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
Comments(3)
tictoc1
says...
3:37pm Wed 28 Nov 12
We're all young at some point in our lives and some people think they know all the circumstances the gazette writes about!
life cycle too
says...
5:30pm Wed 28 Nov 12
tictoc1 wrote:We ARE all young at some point, and have all made mistakes on the road at some point in our lives. Thankfully we usually get the chance to learn from them without sustaining injury.
I wish all involved a speedy recovery!
We're all young at some point in our lives and some people think they know all the circumstances the gazette writes about!
For once the Gazette report is full of information.
The police stated that the driver "somehow lost control" and given the road in question, the limited experience of the driver, in a Peugeot 106 with four passengers, I suspect that I will not be the only one drawing the same conclusion as to the reason for the (probable cause of) loss of control.
My own son has passed his test, but at no point did he receive any tuition regarding driving with a full car load, driving in the snow or ice, or what to do if the brakes failed on a hill - until I stepped in and showed him myself.
We all deserve better than to allow young drivers on the road without preparing them for more eventualities - and simply limiting the number of passengers that can be carried is not the answer.
life cycle too says...
1:56pm Wed 28 Nov 12
It is high time that novice drivers were made aware of the changes in handling that occur in small cars, with multiple passengers, and not left to find out the hard way.
I hope for the sake of this drivers family that he makes a full recovery, and that the authorities start to wake up and take notice.
At present, their only answer has been to suggest restricting the number of passengers new drivers can carry - which only postpones the inevitable time when they drive with more passengers than they know how to cope with, and it is extremely difficult for the police to enforce, unless they routinely stop vehicles with more than one or two passengers in to check!