NTSB: 13-year-old drove pickup in Texas crash that killed 9

[Celerity]

https://apnews.com/article/sports-canada-texas-education-europe-b03ae1b3a1193087d5444429182fd2da

HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — A 13-year-old was driving the pickup truck that struck a van in West Texas in a fiery collision that killed nine people, including six members of a college golf team and their coach, a National Transportation Safety Board official said Thursday. The child and a man traveling in the truck also died.

The truck’s left front tire, which was a spare tire, also blew out before impact, said NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg. Although it was unclear how fast the two vehicles were traveling, “this was clearly a high-speed collision,” Landsberg said. He added investigators hoped to retrieve enough information from the vehicle’s recorders to better understand what happened.

One must be 14 in Texas to start taking classroom courses for a learner’s license and 15 to receive that provisional license to drive with an instructor or licensed adult in the vehicle. Department of Public Safety Sgt. Victor Taylor said a 13-year-old driving would be breaking the law.

The pickup truck crossed into the opposite lane on a darkened, two-lane highway before colliding head-on with a van, killing the boy, a man traveling with him, six New Mexico college students and a golf coach.

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[Hokie]

1. God damn Texas

Pro life my ass. They don't give a shit about life in Texas.

[SoCalDavidS]

5. Honestly, As A Whole, Americans Don't Give A Shit About Life

30-40% won't get vaccinated or wear a fucking mask to save lives. 900,000 Dead. 1 MILLION DEAD, it's all just #'s to many of the Assholes in this country.

And don't you dare mention gun control in America, especially in a shithole state like TX, otherwise they'll gladly shoot your ass, because like you said, they don't give a shit about life down there, except perhaps, on occasion, their own.

[Runningdawg]

2. Such a tragedy.

I have seen the remarks online asking why the father would allow the child behind the wheel. I COULD drive at 13 but I wasn't allowed off my daddy's property until I had my permit. I learned at a young age because like most kids who worked on a farm/ranch, I had to know. Not just for doing chores but in case there was a medical emergency and an adult wasn't home or was the one injured. But there is another type of child who knows how to drive and they are becoming more common, the child of an alcoholic/addict.

[Totally Tunsie]

3. This news just compounds the tragedy.

[BlackSkimmer]

4. Apparently he was from a Mennonite family.

Probably not your average Texan, but that’ll probably not stop the Texas comments.

Not referring to you, Celerity; I’ve just seen so many comments in other threads.

[SoCalDavidS]

6. Apologies To Those Here On DU Who Have To Live In A State Like Texas

But facts are facts, and the majority in your state are Assholes, who consistently vote for repubs, and will NEVER vote for someone with a (D) next to their name.

And that's a reason why I think Democrats waste their money by investing it in the big TX races. In 2020, there was constant talk about how TX was close enough to flip Democratic in the Presidential election, and then Mr. Biden ended up losing by something like 7%.

I'm 55, and I'd be willing to bet a large amount of money, that a Democrat won't win the Electoral votes of that state in my lifetime, nor will a Democrat win the Governor or Senate races there.

Some will attack me for sounding defeatist. I think of it more as Realistic. The party should be putting it's money in states that are very much on the bubble, like AZ, GA or NV. Let backwards states like FL & TX do their republican thing, that's not going to change anytime soon, if ever.

[Kaleva]

7. It was a bit before u were born when TX voted for JFK in '60

LBJ won the state in '64

Hubert Humphrey won Texas in 1968.

[SoCalDavidS]

10. When A State Goes Almost 60 Years Since They Voted Blue

Believe Them. They're not going to change. And the mere fact they voted for that Piece Of Shit in 2020, shows that they have not changed one bit.

[Kaleva]

11. They voted blue for over a 100 years so, yes, they could change

And remember that California and New York were solid Red states for longer then 60 years.

Nixon won CA in 1968

[BlackSkimmer]

8. I'm not from Texas. Only visited it once. USAF Basic Training way back in the day.

I dislike region bashing.

As I posted, this boy was a Mennonite, so I doubt he was the kind of Texan people so love to hate.

Horrible story. Let’s not forget these incidents occur all over this country.

[SoCalDavidS]

9. I Don't Disagree

This type of incident could definitely happen anywhere in America. Sad, but true.

[7wo7rees]

12. All I can say to you is I am deeply offended by what you have to say about Texas!

I can not say anything more to you because it would result in our being punished. You don't know shit about Texas, SoCalDavidS!!


Ms7wo7rees