Tragic Story in Broadlands Last Night

As to Brim, I am leagally responsible for anything my child does till she is 18. Till then, my husband and I are fullyl responsible for my child's actions.

 

Sure, in a legal sense...but you can still blame parents can't you? I'm on the fence on this one as far as who's fault it is, but I'm leaning more towards the parents for raising a a kid that would do something like that, but then again I feel the kid is old enough to know right from wrong regardless of upbringing.

 

This is just symantecs used to justify the word accident in the first place. Giving him the keys caused this 'accident' just as much as if they were driving themselves.

 

Simple fact remains, if the parents would not have given kid the keys, kid would not have been driving, accident wouldn't have happened, two kids would still be alive.

 

If the parents gave him the keys (is there evidence of this?) then they do have to accept some responsibility. A vehicle is not a toy to play around in. In this country there are more people killed by auto accidents than by firearms. Would give your 15 year old a gun before he had the proper training? Giving the keys to the car is no different.
If it was a situation where he took the truck without permission then I don't see fault in the parents actions. No matter how well they are raised, teens will do stupid things. Between peer pressure, growing independence and all the other influences teens are exposed to, even the best parents cannot completely control the actions of their teenager.

 

Here's my $.02 worth.

Only person at fault so far is the driver. He should not have been driving nor in that area of the accident. He probably wanted to act cool or show off. He could have gotten the truck without the parents permission. Bonehead parents if they gave him the keys.

Two kids who died may also be at fault for riding in the back of the truck. They may have known it's illegal to ride in the back of a truck bed. Too early to say if they knew the driver was going to drive recklessly. I'm thinking all three were in that area for a thrill ride.

Only people I feel bad for are the parents for the dead and the kid who might be going to jail. He just f'ed his life. I had times in my life when I was about their age to ruin my life. But I didn't. High school friends of mine went to jail, one was put to death on deathrow, and others are assumed criminals. Easy access to a bad life if I stuck with these people.

Hopefully the other kids at school will remember what happened and not make the same mistake when they're in a bad "situation". Peer pressure is tough and the only thing to combact that is will power of the person.

I think we'll see more stupid acts from teens and young adults. It's part of growing up. I think there is absolutely not much to do around ashburn for teens. There's street racing going on around our area. Maybe not inside Ashburn but definitely near it. I've talked to some teens in the area but I'm not sure if they're from Ashburn.

Parents are going to have a tough time protecting their kids. Some kids will listen and others will do their own thing. Once peer pressure kicks in, it's tough to break away. Everyone wants to fit in and be cool.

-Teak

 

I have yet to read, or hear on the news reports who's vehicle this was that this child was driving. Also I have not read or heard on the news reports that the parents gave their son the keys, and he had the vehicle with the parents fully aware of it. Could someone please tell me where to find this information? For whatever reason, I can't rely on hear say, if that's the case.

 

From the Leesburg2Today web site (http://www.leesburg2day.com/current.cfm?catid=6&newsid=8718)

"The truck belonged to the unidentified juvenile's parents, [Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kraig] Troxell said. Troxell said the 15-year-old driver did not have a learner's permit and should not have been operating the vehicle."

Don't know if that means he took the truck without his parent's permission or shouldn't have been operating it because he didn't have a license.

 

On the news the other day it said Loudoun County Sherriff says youth did not have learners permit and was frequently allowed to drive the vehicle.

 

I know...can you believe two people (afgm and nvhome) had an 'amen' to add to her statements? So far, me, you, and smythla are the only ones to mention anything about the pathetic 'there's nothing to do, so we drink and do drugs and get in trouble' statement.

 

You might want to check again, until your children are 18 you are 100% responsible for their actions.

 

I lived in Loudoun during my teen/HS years back in the 70's and there was plenty to do back then. There is so much more to do in this area that using that excuse is a complete cop-out.

Maybe, just MAYBE, the teen was trying to rationalize (incorrectly IMO) why teeagers do what they "shouldn't" do.

 

Not even close Mearan. 16 is considered "of legal age" for many actions (ill or otherwise) in Virginia.

If you kid cheats and gets caught at school, you going to take their detention. Just an example of where you "100% responsibility is not reasonable or expected.

 

I am an adult and I know Pink7. I'm pretty darn sure she wasn't referring to herself when discussing what some teens do. IMO she was making a rationalization as to why some</u> kids act that way. It's fine and dandy to blast her but she was giving you a teens perspective. Amen to that for those of you that don't have kids/teens and wouldn't know otherwise. The fact that this is what some young people think is what makes it a true statement. (btw..I know a couple of adults that seem to have nothing better to do than potentially harmful activities, this is not a teen only problem)

There are wonderful things to do in this area but a lot of them cost money. Ok, get a job to get the money. But then you need a car and have to drive. Ok, get someone to drive you. If your parents aren't home from work, who's going to drive you? Another teen?

There are unlimited arguments to almost every post on this forum. Some are more rational and realistic than others.

My thoughts and prayers will continue to go out to the families affected by this accident.

 

Be it a teen's perspective or personal experience, it's wrong in all regards. I'm sure with all the money people make in this area, it's not that much of a pinch on the wallet to give your kids a good enough allowance to be able to go do things in the community until they're old enough (and proven responsible enough) to get a job and help pay their own way.

Frankly, I'm tired of all the parent's on here up on their high horse blasting all the 'non-parents' for their input. If you'll pay attention, most of the things non-parents are suggesting is nothing but common sense...you certianly don't have to be a parent to have that. Give that argument a rest, please...it's not like non-parents are saying 'leave your kids in the garage overnight!' or 'let them mix chemicals under the sink!'