Teens die in Mass. crash, 1 was underage driver

Two 14-year-old boys have died in a head-on crash in Southwick and police say one of them was behind the wheel.

[according to me]

I wish the article mentioned more about the incident,such as did they "borrow the car" from a parent or was it stolen and was speed a factor. Lots of teens tend to go joy riding in their parents cars without them knowing its just a shamed it ended like this. parents need to put the car keys in the bedroom at night to stop incidents like this one from happening. I know I will when my kids hit that age. Whether you trust your kids or not dont give them the option to do it.
Im sure we'll hear more in the coming days.

[torch]

My heart truly goes out to the parents. I hope they can find some peace in the coming months.

[Melissa]

What is wrong with these teenagers now a days and where are the parents who are suppose to be teaching them and watching them.. Its so sad!!!Parents need to be more into their kids lives.. The world is a scary place these days and they need us!!

[anonomous reader]

My heart goes out to the parents of both of the children involved in this accident, and the other driver involved in this accident. I agree the parents of teenagers or Children of ANY age need to be completely involved in their kids lives and continue to keep them aware of the dangers surrounding them All the dangers,drugs,drinking,peer pressure,Sex offenders,driving dangers etc. but a parent also needs to be open for those discussions and not just be condescending when having them.(not always easy on either side). I was not aware the legal age in Mass for driving was now down to 16+1/2 that is very scary. I think it should still be set at 18yrs old. perhaps out of the fear of the fact that I have a teenager getting close to the legal age to drive and frankly, No I do not feel that he/she, is ready for that responsibility yet. When you add on the responsibilities of car ownership,insurance etc. Before anyone says it I will say it, I do not drive nor own a vehicle, due to medical conditions.So no, when my children get/got, to the proper age to drive yes, the vehicle is their responsibility not mine.So I would hope they can handle it or await the proper time to get one.
Again, my heartfelt condolences to the families involved in this accident.Too bad it was not prevented.

[Puddleducks]

Where have you people been hiding? Legal driving age has been 16 and a half for at least 35 years!

Teenagers have been taking cars out for joyrides for for even longer than that. You'd be amazed at the the number of 14-to-16-year-olds who have been out burning their parents' fuel at two in the morning. You'd also be shocked to hear the stories of under-age joyriding from every generation since the turn of the last century.

Just what difference would raising the driving age make anyway? These kids would have gone cruising even if the driving age was 21.

If you want safe children, teach them the rules of the road early. This also applies to other areas of life we adults 'reserve' to ourselves.
You can't help your kids become adults themselves if you try to keep them safe in the bubble-wrap.

Teenagers do shocking, surprising things. Teach them what they need to know, so the shocks and surprises might not be as tragic as this story was.

[From Williamstown]

anonomous reader wrote:

.... I was not aware the legal age in Mass for driving was now down to 16+1/2 that is very scary. I think it should still be set at 18yrs old. perhaps out of the fear of the fact that I have a teenager getting close to the legal age to drive and frankly,

When was it 18? it had to be before the 70's. The kids that are going to do that sort of thing will. Personally, I would have been afraid of my old man breaking my neck, so I never did, part fear, part respect.(In those days, there were none of these sad little time out parents around.) A friend of mine took his parents car out for a ride and wasn't the driver he had thought he was. He didn't get hurt but the car was totaled. This is not a new thing.

[Knows Who]

What in the world were 2 14 y/o operating a motor vehicle?

[From Williamstown]

Knows Who wrote:

What in the world were 2 14 y/o operating a motor vehicle?

Probably doing the same thing my buddy was doing, having fun. Kids are not real thinkers at 14, they really don't process the ramifications of their actions very well at times.
Sadly that can get you killed.

[anonomous reader]

Well From Williamstown and Puddleducks, I have been living in this same world as you both, and I am fully aware of the fact that no matter the legal driving age limit there has been and always will be some children out there driving Well under the legal driving age, such as the 6yrs olds and 10 yr olds that have made it into the news broadcast that have barely scraped past accidents themselves because they have managed to sneak out of the house with their parents cars. Does that make it right ? NO! I myself drove back when I was young and foolish as a teen, did it make things right back then? NO! Does that mean I want my teenager out on the streets driving before he/she can handle the responsibility NO! Perhaps,because I am unable to get a license due to my medical condition I have not kept up on the changes of the legal driving ages as much as you smart A$$es. But excuse me for that. It certainly does not mean I live under a rock nor does it mean,that I should act as if I condone the teenagers driving in the middle of the night,which judging from how your speaking here, it suggests you do condone it.
Seems to me you were probably one of those fools street racing back in the 60's when so many fools were killed just to feel the thrill of the 'my car is faster than your car.' Time to grow up and get over those days .This is after-all 2009 and the point is now save the kids not teach them to do the foolish things our folks and sisters and brothers did back in the old days. Times have changed.

[yosemite sam]

anonomous reader wrote:

My heart goes out to the parents of both of the children involved in this accident, and the other driver involved in this accident. I agree the parents of teenagers or Children of ANY age need to be completely involved in their kids lives and continue to keep them aware of the dangers surrounding them All the dangers,drugs,drinking,peer pressure,Sex offenders,driving dangers etc. but a parent also needs to be open for those discussions and not just be condescending when having them.(not always easy on either side). I was not aware the legal age in Mass for driving was now down to 16+1/2 that is very scary. I think it should still be set at 18yrs old. perhaps out of the fear of the fact that I have a teenager getting close to the legal age to drive and frankly, No I do not feel that he/she, is ready for that responsibility yet. When you add on the responsibilities of car ownership,insurance etc. Before anyone says it I will say it, I do not drive nor own a vehicle, due to medical conditions.So no, when my children get/got, to the proper age to drive yes, the vehicle is their responsibility not mine.So I would hope they can handle it or await the proper time to get one.
Again, my heartfelt condolences to the families involved in this accident.Too bad it was not prevented.

"16 1/2" providing they have passed the required driver's ed. But you are right, and I do agree with you. It's a shame. At any given time, an IMPULSIVE teenager is one step away from making a wreckless decision. My heart and prayers go out to both families involved. It's a parents worst nightmare to outlive your child.

[Southwick Res]

The 2 boys had alcohol on board and it was the Grandmothers car...They were on a curvy, hilly road, and at 90mph, not much can be done, but at least the girl they hit will be o.k.
We all need to know who r kids r and who they r hanging out with, dicipline statrs at home..But no kids r from broken/single parent homes or r even being raised by granparents who r up there in age....But no matter what 2 young "children r gone"
My they RIP..

[Southwick Res]

SORRY ABOVE must kids now r from broken homes....

[From Williamstown]

anonomous reader wrote:

Well From Williamstown and Puddleducks, I have been living in this same world as you both, and I am fully aware of the fact that no matter the legal driving age limit there has been and always will be some children out there driving Well under the legal driving age, such as the 6yrs olds and 10 yr olds that have made it into the news broadcast that have barely scraped past accidents themselves because they have managed to sneak out of the house with their parents cars. Does that make it right ? NO! I myself drove back when I was young and foolish as a teen, did it make things right back then? NO! Does that mean I want my teenager out on the streets driving before he/she can handle the responsibility NO! Perhaps,because I am unable to get a license due to my medical condition I have not kept up on the changes of the legal driving ages as much as you smart **** es. But excuse me for that. It certainly does not mean I live under a rock nor does it mean,that I should act as if I condone the teenagers driving in the middle of the night,which judging from how your speaking here, it suggests you do condone it.
Seems to me you were probably one of those fools street racing back in the 60's when so many fools were killed just to feel the thrill of the 'my car is faster than your car.' Time to grow up and get over those days .This is after-all 2009 and the point is now save the kids not teach them to do the foolish things our folks and sisters and brothers did back in the old days. Times have changed.

Grand assumptions you are making there, but if you actually read my posts, I said I DIDN'T take my parents car. I was just asking when the driving age was 16?? Get off from your soap box and take a breath.

[Carmine Roberto]

I have one word that will certainly help if not inhibit entirely tragedies such as this one... EDUCATION!!! Teach your children to respect things like motor vehicles, guns, alcohol and sex. We try so hard to make our youth FEAR these things and the reality is that when they are teens they fear nothing. I know I didn't. I am the parent of a 7 year old boy and I live with my girlfriend who has a 9 year old boy and it just happens we live right down the road from where this incident occurred. Children have been joy riding their parent's cars since the inception of cars. I did it and I'll bet every other person who reads this did it. Everyone's all lock up your guns, lock the liquor cabinet, hide the keys to everything, but the reality is that we're all human and can forget the keys somewhere or whatever. Here's another concept... Teach your child how to drive, teach him about guns. Teach him about sex, drugs and alcohol. The facts are they're going to encounter these things no matter what precautions we take as parents and when they do maybe, with a bit of knowledge behind them, they'll make the right choices and, if not, maybe they'll at least be skilled drivers, et cetera, and, maybe, things like this won't happen. By all means, lock up what you can, but teach your child about these things. Fear is a lousy substitute for education. I wasn't afraid of anything at 14, not even the wrath of my parents. And I grew up in the days when it was still okay to plant a foot in your child's ass for stunts like this.

[Carmine Roberto]

P.S. My condolences to the parents involved in this tragedy and my best to best to all involved.

[anonomous reader]

Carmine
Exactly what I am saying. We can't always prevent our Children from doing everything we are against. We parents will always worry for our children's safety. But the best tool we can give our children for a life of success is our love,guidance,support and the tools to let them know with knowledge inside them Fear and peer pressure will NOT be how their decisions are made. We have to hope they will remember all we have tought them and put that knowledge to use when they are beyond our site and out of our arms reach.So to say.
Thank You for being clear.

[Knows Who]

anonomous reader wrote:

Carmine
Exactly what I am saying. We can't always prevent our Children from doing everything we are against. We parents will always worry for our children's safety. But the best tool we can give our children for a life of success is our love,guidance,support and the tools to let them know with knowledge inside them Fear and peer pressure will NOT be how their decisions are made. We have to hope they will remember all we have tought them and put that knowledge to use when they are beyond our site and out of our arms reach.So to say.
Thank You for being clear.

That was well said. I wish there were more parents out there like you. You understand and take time to nurture your children. I do the same. I only hope that when she gets old enough to make all of her decisions she does it with what Mom and Dad have taught her. Parents need to listen to their children. Need to know what is going on. Obviously this situation could happen to good parents. It is very sad.