A tragic accident involving children occurred on Friday, December 12, 2014. Two child passengers perished in a car accident while being driven by a nine year old boy. The incident occurred about 45 miles east of Jackson in a rural area north of the town of Forest. The car turned to avoid a mandatory checkpoint set upon on Highway 35. A Mississippi Highway Patrol officer noticed the 2003 Mercury Sable attempting to avoid the checkpoint and set off after the vehicle.
The runaway car veered off the road while attempting to avoid the police officer. The car overturned and collided with a utility police. The nine year old driver and one of the passengers, a boy of only three, were ejected from the vehicle. The ejected toddler and another passenger, a 13 year old boy, died from their injuries. The nine year old driver and the remaining passenger, a 13 year old girl, were rushed to the hospital for treatment. The driver remained in critical condition and the young girl’s condition has not been released. The names of the survivors have also not yet been released.
All four of the children in the vehicle that day lived in the same household, though their relationship to one another is not clear. Police have not released the name of the owner of the vehicle. None of the children occupants were wearing seatbelts.
Any car accident is a tragic occurrence, but when young children are involved accidents become all the more troubling. More than 9,000 children under the age of 12 will die in car crashes each year. This number is down tremendously since 2002, but many safety advocates feel the figure is still too high. Researchers report that one out of every three children killed in automobile accidents was not wearing a seat belt.
Study after study has demonstrated that seat belts and age appropriate child restraints are the best way to protect children in the event of a crash. Yet many states, including Mississippi, have not yet passed laws requiring the use of car seats and booster seats for all children under the age of eight. Even more states have not adapted car seat laws to meet with current safety recommendations, which include keeping all children under the age of two years old in a rear facing car seat. According to many child safety advocates, passage of mandatory booster seat laws up until the age of eight would save many elementary school aged children who are simply too small to be safely riding in a seat with just a seat belt.
If your child is injured in a car accident, consult with a licensed car accident attorney as soon as possible. It is imperative your child’s rights be protected fully from the start.
Barrett Law PLLC: Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys Fighting for Your Full Recovery
All car accidents are tragic and unfortunate. Those involving young children, however, are particularly heinous. This accident highlights the importance of child supervision and of teaching even young children never to get in the car with anyone other than a trusted adult. The importance of wearing a seat belt also cannot be overemphasized to children. If you or a loved one is involved in a car accident, the Mississippi Car Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC are here to help. Our dedicated car accident attorneys will fight for your full recovery, which may include medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and non-economic damages. Call Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced car accident attorneys.