Captain Jason Berry
Government and Media Relations
(360) 596-4010 – office
(360) 596-4015 – fax
http://www.wsp.wa.gov
*** For Immediate Release***
Date:
October 29, 2010
Contact:
Trooper Brandy Kessler, Tacoma
Phone:
(253) 606-1796
E-mail:
brandy.kessler@wsp.wa.gov
Teen Driver Education Continues as Thurston County Communities Mourn the Death of Four Young Adults in One Month
In a one month period in Thurston County, communities were devastated by the loss of three teens and one twenty year old. The Washington State Patrol along with the Department of Licensing, the Traffic Safety Commission and the Coroner’s office work hard to educate teen drivers and the parents of teen drivers in hopes of preventing these tragedies from happening.
Last week Brittany Sill, the Target Zero Program Manager for Thurston County, conducted a Texting and Driving “Grim Reaper” Program at Yelm High School in an effort to save teen lives. The same program was done in May at Tumwater High School. Since that date over 250 violators have been ticketed by Tumwater Police alone and only one of those ticketed was a Tumwater High Student. Sill stated “Thurston County has been unfortunate in the number of teen fatalities. Impairment, speed, distraction and the lack of seatbelt use are the causes of these preventable collisions. This program is done with the support of students, teachers, parents, emergency personnel, and law enforcement. They work together to get the message across, in a morbid way, which is what the teens need to come as close to the reality as possible and save lives.” Sill will be conducting the same texting program at Capitol and Black Hills High Schools in the spring of 2011, and will conduct a seatbelt program at North Thurston High School in the spring to encourage the use of seatbelts by teens.
The Traffic Safety Commission, Department of Licensing and Washington State Patrol partnered with the family of 19 year old Heather Lurch who was tragically killed last February as a result of texting while driving. I have traveled all over Washington putting Heathers car on display with poster boards to show people the reality of what can happen if they choose to text and drive. The reaction I hear of those who see the display is the same; “Wow I am never going to talk/text and drive again”. Along with the display, cards were produced to hand out to the community with facts regarding Heathers crash and the texting law. Last week her car was at Yelm High School and in Bremerton. This week Heathers car was at Thomas Jefferson High School and also the Muckleshoot Tribal School in Auburn. Next week her car will go to Bremerton again for the Kitsap Youth Conference.
Thurston County Coroner, Gary Warnock, along with Joe West, photographer for the coroner’s office also travels county wide speaking to teens. They have a very powerful message that includes graphic photos. As the teens see the photos and listen intently to them speak, you can hear a pin drop in the room. Coroner Warnock states “This is graphic reality of what actually happens out there on our roadways. What they can’t hear or see through the media is what they see here. We want to change their behaviors in order to save their lives.”
Our statistics show that nearly all teen deaths are preventable. Many programs are in place to educate teens and make them aware of the tragic consequences of speed, impaired driving and distracted driving and, thanks to Senator Eide’s efforts, there is now a primary law for texting/talking and driving. But, sadly the tragedies are still happening.
As the WSP continues to aggressively stop, ticket and arrest for speed, DUI and cell phone violations we urge parents to continuously talk to their own teens about their choices while behind the wheel. Have the discussion with them about the deaths we have had in our community. The mourning parents of these four young victims would all agree that they want other teens to learn from their child’s tragic death, and not suffer the same fate they did.
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William Johnston, 18 years old from Olympia |
Evgeny Snyder, 20 years old from Rochester |
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Spencer Ford, 17 years old from Tenino |
Michael Conine, 17 years old from Centralia |