Driver, 11, among 3 killed in Tulare Co. crash

Fresno Bee ^ | 01-13-2010 | Russel Clemings

[JuanAntonio]

Three people died Tuesday night in an accident involving an 11-year-old driver near Woodville in Tulare County, the California Highway Patrol said. The crash happened about 7:25 p.m. at Road 152 and Avenue 168, about midway between Porterville and Tipton. The 11-year-old boy was driving an eastbound 1993 Honda on Avenue 168 and ran a stop sign at Road 152. The car, with four occupants, all from Woodville, was struck broadside by a southbound 1999 Ford driven by Charles Seguin, 44, of Porterville. Seguin sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene, officers said. But two female rear-seat passengers in the Honda, ages 6 and 30, were ejected into a walnut grove near the southeast corner. Both died, as did the driver. Names of the three victims were withheld for notification of relatives. The Honda's other passenger, identified as Froylon Gonzalez, 34, suffered what was described as life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.

[JuanAntonio]

Tragic....I'm sure more information will break as time passes....

[BenLurkin]

There have been incidents where parents who weer intoxicated asked minors to drive for them.

[world weary]

But two female rear-seat passengers in the Honda, ages 6 and 30, were ejected into a walnut grove near the southeast corner.

WTH??

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

This is insanity. Why is an 11 yo driving when there are 3 30 something on board?

[newfreep]

Appears to be another case of illegals.....

[Abathar]

A thirty and a thirty four year old was in the car but they let the eleven year old drive? I hope they stuff the surviving adult under the jail.

[Wolfie]

The kids were probably the only sober ones in the car. Probably.

[GranTorino]

I agree.
I drove when I was 11, But I worked on a farm and had to.
This just sounds fishy to me.
Maby the boy got knocked into the driver’s seat by the impact? Who knows?

[holden]

Perhaps we're going to be told this is case of a cultural difference and we just better not engage our racist hate-speech!

To be ejected as they were suggests the occupants may not have had a required safety-briefing before they began their journey, or perhaps that any warning placards were--due to oversight--not printed in a language they could read.

The youngster, we come to learn, may have altruistically been driving his disabled parents to the clinic for some taxpayer-assisted health care.

HF

[MarineBrat]

This is just down the road from us. A dollar says they were Mexicans.

I hereby issue Honorary Darwin Awards to all but the six year old.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The 30 year old got what she had coming. Hopefully the 34 year old will too. The poor kids. . .

[BenLurkin]

I'm glad the other driver made it through okay -- though don't be surprised if some greedy plaintiff lawyer sues him and the county!

[GovernmentShrinker]

Adults like this wouldn’t hesitate to encourage an 11 year old to drink alcohol. Or a 6 year old.

[Gay State Conservative]

I hereby issue Honorary Darwin Awards to all but the six year old.

The adult(s) who were,or should have been,in charge are fully to blame,IMO.You can't hold an 11 year old responsible for something like this when there was at least one adult present.

[aruanan]

This is insanity. Why is an 11 yo driving when there are 3 30 something on board?

He was probably the designated driver, for safety's sake, you know.