13 + 2 + 75 = 9

[Oaktree]

My two cents.. The state ain’t accountable. That’s like blaming gun makers for a shooting.

The state shares responsibility here if they habitually look the other way at underage/unlicensed driving on public highways.
It's one thing to drive on the farm or private roads, something totally different to drive 75mph on a public highway.

 

[jyoutz]

The state shares responsibility here if they habitually look the other way at underage/unlicensed driving on public highways.
It's one thing to drive on the farm or private roads, something totally different to drive 75mph on a public highway.

Texas has already stated that it’s illegal for 13 year olds to drive on public roads. This is no different than drinking and driving. It’s illegal but people do it. The state isn’t liable for people doing illegal activities.

 

[Doofy]

I drove some of that same stretch of road back in the early 60s. I was around 10. My Father was dead tired from working 2 oil field jobs and just needed a quick nap. Road was straight with hardly any traffic and I probably never went over 40 mph.

Different times. Farm kids drive all types of equipment and joined the workforce very early. Kids were more mature in times past because they had to be. Not sure about today.

 

[Clintock]

The state shares responsibility here if they habitually look the other way at underage/unlicensed driving on public highways.
It's one thing to drive on the farm or private roads, something totally different to drive 75mph on a public highway.

State is not responsible. Everybody knows it’s illegal to drive without a license. Texas is one of the states that don’t play. When I worked in oilfield my brother got 3 tickets in an hours time there. Third one he said he’s done got out and I had to finish the drive. Never drove in tx again. I’m sure the kid knew. The daddy knew. Was the daddy hurt and needing the hospital? If it’d been my daddy I’d sure as hell been hammering it to get him some help. Can’t hold someone else responsible for your actions. That’s the world we live in today though. Everybody has to have a scapegoat and if I’m being honest, nobody wants to take the blame anymore. Pass it off to the man, or system, or company, that has more money than me.

 

[oosik]

We obviously do not have all the facts here. A two-lane road with 75mph speed limit. Hell - I-90 running W to E thru our state only has a max speed of 70 mph. Sounds like somebody might be exaggerating a little. Besides - what bearing does the speed limit have on this accident. How fast were the vehicles going.

 

[Cougsfan]

I agree that not enough information has been provided to draw any definite conclusions. However the likelihood of acceptable circumstances of a 13 year-old being in that situation in the first place have to be quite low. Might be just as low if an adult was driving that pick-up, but it wouldn't make as much headline news. As unfortunate and utterly tragic as this accident was, the news media does tend to magnify incidents and continually attempts to create wide ranging issues that may or may not be in need of magnification.

 

[ljjhouser]

All the facts are not there. But there are some facts that are there. 1. A 13 year old and father died. 2. nine others died. 3. the pickup and child and father in truck was the cause of the accident by crossing into the oncoming lane of traffic. 4. The occupants of the Transit did not in any way create the accident. 5. Everyone involved became a victim. Everything else may have cause to bear questioning or consideration. Those may include Why, How, and also consider that sometimes things happen our of our control. But a 13 year old driving it this situation does bear scrutiny. Sad and troubling circumstances.

 

[oosik]

I agree Cougsfan. If it would have been an adult driving the pickup - not near the media hype.

 

[Doofy]

Tragic and sad, anyway you look at it.

 

[jyoutz]

I drove some of that same stretch of road back in the early 60s. I was around 10. My Father was dead tired from working 2 oil field jobs and just needed a quick nap. Road was straight with hardly any traffic and I probably never went over 40 mph.

Different times. Farm kids drive all types of equipment and joined the workforce very early. Kids were more mature in times past because they had to be. Not sure about today.

The oil field traffic on those roads made for a white knuckle drive for me last year. Trucks and other equipment running 75 and pulling out everywhere. Not a good learner’s environment.