A 13-year-old was behind the wheel in Texas crash that killed nine people and left two ...

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: CNN

A 13-year-old was behind the wheel in Texas crash that killed nine people and left two University of the Southwest golfers critically injured

By Ray Sanchez, Steve Almasy, Rosa Flores

Updated 5:04 PM ET, Thu March 17, 2022

(CNN) -- A 13-year-old boy drove the pickup truck involved in a fiery head-on collision in Texas that killed nine people, including six University of the Southwest golfers and their coach, a National Transportation Safety Board official said Thursday.

Preliminary information indicates the left front tire of the pickup was a spare that failed, causing the vehicle to pull hard to the left into oncoming traffic of a two-lane roadway, NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg said. ... Investigators were able to identify the remains of the driver by his size, Landsberg said. Both vehicles were probably moving close to the posted speed limit of 75 mph, he said.

Henrich Siemens, 38, of Seminole, Texas, was in the truck with the boy, authorities said. He was among the nine people killed in the Tuesday evening crash.

Two survivors of the crash, both students, are still hospitalized. ... The survivors are recovering and making steady progress, University of the Southwest Provost Ryan Tipton said Thursday.

{snip}

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/17/us/usw-golf-team-van-crash-thursday/index.html

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This is already posted elsewhere at DU.

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ESPN: NTSB says 13-year-old driving truck in crash involving University of the Southwest golf teams

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216494995

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My "WTF is wrong with this guy?" story of the day, guy lets a 13-year old drive a truck and crash...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216495003

[Ilsa]

1. Does anyone know why the 38 year old allowed the 13 year old to drive?

Did anyone explain to him that driving on a spare means more caution and lower speed are prudent?

[pfitz59]

4. Maybe the adult was drunk?

Been known to happen

[Effete Snob]

7. Might be why the one tire was out already

[monkeyman1]

22. in texas , -

I lived in Northern Texas & a lot of parents teach the kid's to drive at a early age & if they are drunk , the kid's get them home ! see it a lot ! not just putting Texas down , happen's all over the country ! just another rude awakening !

[James48]

5. Because it's TEXAS.

Last edited Thu Mar 17, 2022, 09:43 PM - Edit history (1)

It’s a whole ‘nother country down there.

[Paladin]

10. Yeah, I anticipated your post.

Contrary to your wishful thinking, we Texans do not encourage 13-year-old children to drive. Depriving them of the chance to read a classic like "Maus"? Yes. Getting behind the wheel and killing a bunch of college kids? No.

[keopeli]

15. As a fellow Texan, my experience differs. Especially where I am from in West Texas, it is...

very common for parents to let their 13 or 12-year-old son drive their car, even without the parent in the passenger seat. It is less common for parents to let their daughters drive at such a young age, though they still let them drive before they are old enough to do so.

To be fair, I do not have scientific studies to prove this to be the case. However, in my experience, the West Texas culture promotes all sorts of inappropriate behavior for pre-adolescent boys.

Peace

[cab67]

17. If this was a rural area, it might not be so uncommon.

It's not unique to Texas, either - kids growing up on farms are not infrequently allowed to drive, though parents usually don't let them drive beyond their property.

[murielm99]

27. That has been my experience.

Farm kids help out by driving on the farm.

[yaesu]

2. That is an "oh no!" headlines, so sad and yet why was he allowed to be in control of a lethal weapon

on a highway,

[JudyM]

3. Looks like the 38 year old may have been a trucker

https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program/henrich-siemens-seminole-tx

[milestogo]

6. Oh shit.

Well if there were issues with the tire it could have happened anyway, but someone with no driving experience should not have been at the wheel.

What a tragedy.

[LiberatedUSA]

8. Why wasn't the adult driving and why did the adult..

…allow the kid to go so fast on a spare? Good fucking grief.

[marie999]

9. My spare, I just looked at it, says 50 MPH max.

[halfulglas]

16. I don't even have a spare.

My 2017 Ford has one of those "kits" that has slime in it that you're supposed to put in your tire and then drive on it.

[Xoan]

11. Stupidity is more common...

Than you think.

[howardmappel]

12. Old enough

Dagnabit (or whatever the appropriate saying is), is he is old enough to shoot a gun then he is old enough to drive. And stopping children from driving is even worse than making them get vaxxed or wear a mask. So there.

[ironflange]

13. The speed limit on a two-lane road is 75 mph? Huh?

Oh yeah, it's Texas.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

18. Excuse me . . .

But, have you ever been to Wyoming, Montana, North or South Dakota ?

[ironflange]

19. A narrow road though?

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

20. Yes, a narrow road and

very few highway patrol cars up there.

What I find crazy are some state speed limits in the mountain passes. It's like they're begging for accidents.

[ironflange]

21. Yecchh

[monkeyman1]

24. guessing some people don't travel much ?

[BradAllison]

14. MMMUUUUUHHHH RIIIIOTS

IF THEY CANT SURVIVE A BUS CRASH THEY SHOULDN'T BE ON THE ROAD!!!!

[monkeyman1]

25. this need's to be flagged !!

[BradAllison]

26. Why?

Because I think this is how sociopath shitbags think? Letting their 13 year olds drive while they're pissing themselves drunk?