A one-vehicle wreck near Appling sent three teenagers to the hospital this afternoon, with one of them in critical condition.
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Tyler Epps, 16, of Lincolnton, Ga., was airlifted to the Medical College of Georgia hospital and is in critical condition, said Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy Keith Warner. Mr. Epps was riding in the back seat of the vehicle.
The wreck occurred at about 2 p.m. on Ray Owens Road near North Columbia Elementary School.
Ashley Teeters, 16, of Martinez, was driving northbound on Ray Owens when she lost control of her Mercury Sable going around a curve, Deputy Warner said. The vehicle overturned several times and landed in a ditch.
Speed appears to have been a factor, but the weather does not, Deputy Warner said.
Another passenger, Ian McGahee, 15, of Lincolnton, Ga., was ejected from the vehicle, but his injuries were not life-threatening, Deputy Warner said. Both Ms. Teeters and Mr. McGahee were transported to MCG with minor injuries, he said.
Deputy Warner said that none of the teens were wearing seatbelts.
Charges are pending against the driver, he said.
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Once again, here is an accident where they were NOT WEARING SEAT BELTS..........At least this one wasn't a fatality.
and I bet speed was a factor...
When will they learn --- do not speed and wear your f***ing seat belt! Did they not learn anything in driving school???
If she in fact WENT to driving school, then her education exceeds her intelligence.
The teen that was airlifted happens to be my cousin and no he was not wearing a seat belt. Has he been taught to wear his seat belt? Yes. Parents cannot be over every single thing kids do when they are not around. He was in the back seat of the car and had nothing to do with how the careless girl was driving and yet he lays in a hospital bed now with the news that he is most likely not going to walk again. His parents didn't ask for this to happen. All of you sitting and casting judgement should take the families of the teens that were not driving into consideration. Yes he should have had his seat belt on, but how many people can honestly say they have had their seat belt on every single time they get into a car? Does he deserve to be paralyzed just because he didn't have it on? I don't think so! Bottom line the girl was driving carelessly and way too fast!!!!
If we all did what we "should" do everyday (including the insensitive brutes on this comment page) this would be a perfect world, wouldn't it? Sadly, it is not. My prayers to the young man who lies helpless in that hospital bed, and to his family, who must be terrified and heartbroken. God bless them.
All a parents can do is try to instill in their children the rules for a good life and try to keep them safe. As we see here, the children often do not heed the rules. The laws of Physics are not compromising. It is sad when the consequences of not following the rules comes crashing into our lives, especially our youth. When that happens, all a parent can do is love and support their children in any way they can.