Eight hospitalized after rural car-versus-tree crashes
From the WCLO newsroom:
Eight are hospitalized after a pair of single-vehicle car-versus-tree crashes Wednesday night in rural Rock County. A 15-year-old Beloit girl faces multiple charges after apparently taking her mother's SUV without permission and attempting to elude Rock County Sheriff's officials on West Spring Creek Road in the Town of Newark.
Officials say the vehicle was clocked at 59 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone. When an officer tried to stop the vehicle, the officer lost sight of it periodically. It appears the 15-year-old tried to avoid being pulled over by speeding up and turning the SUV's lights off periodically. The girl lost control of the vehicle, it struck a tree and rolled.
The girl and her four passengers, ages 12 through 16 and all from Beloit, were treated and released from Beloit Memorial Hospital for cuts and bruises. The driver faces charges of speeding, reckless driving, causing bodily harm by reckless driving, causing injury by knowingly operating without a valid driver's license and failure to fasten safety belts.
A 22-year-old Clinton man also faces charges related to a different car-versus-tree accident Wednesday night.
Ryan L. Clark was driving northbound on South Bergen Road in the Town of Clinton when he lost control of his van and struck a tree. He had to be extricated from the vehicle with the Jaws of Life. He was flown to Rockford Memorial Hospital and was listed in fair condition. One of his passengers was flown to St. Anthony's hospital in Rockford, where he was listed in critical condition and undergoing surgery. A third passenger was treated and released from Beloit Memorial.
All three were cited for failure to fasten safety belts and Clark was also arrested for causing injury by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.
Nov 28, 2008 at 2:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
We gotta do something about those wild trees that jump in front of cars. Maybe we should have a special hunt for them.
:)
Nov 27, 2008 at 6:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
My sympathies are for the mother. She's the one who'll hear the "where was the parental supervision" and "We're gonna SUE" comments from the other parents, even though they all know deep down, that if kids want to get into trouble, they will. Kids are followers; if one says "Jump", most of them will blindly follow. Law of averages says 99.9% of them graduate and go on to do even more stupid things as adults. It's called "life". All a parent can do is drill right and wrong into a kid and convince themselves that it WILL sink in, even if it's subliminally and takes a while.
Nov 27, 2008 at 6:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
I certainly remember these years of teen age stupidity. I didn't think I'd survive when my two girls were this age. I loved them, but I didn't "like" them very much! I could write a book about the dumb stunts they pulled before they were 18.
That said, its a parent's worst fear to get "that call" telling you your child has been hospitalized, jailed or worse. I feel for the parents. Honestly, by the time they hit this age, you're just trying to keep them alive and through to the graduation ceremony. Our basic parenting is finished by the time they are 12 or 13... in my opinion. By 15 -16 we're just hanging on to our hats, as they take us for the "parenting ride of our lives"!!!
Nov 27, 2008 at 4:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
What about "fleeing an officer"
?????
She should be charged with that too.
Nov 27, 2008 at 10:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
im glad everyone was ok.. to often, its to tragic...
Nov 27, 2008 at 10:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
i hate it when trees jump out in front of me!
Nov 27, 2008 at 10:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
Versus?
Car V. Tree lawsuit?
Team tree versus team car?
Not traveling fast enough by car, tree was the next alternative?
Sigh.
Nov 27, 2008 at 9:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
A young 15 year old trying to impress her friends if you want to assume again. I have kids and they do stupid things and fear is a motivator for intensifying what they may or may not do. I just hope they are all ok and didnt suffer to harsh of injuries. We were all kids once and did dumb things and I wont throw stones as to doing this and or my kids doing or trying this. Happy Thankgiving To Everyone today.
Nov 27, 2008 at 8:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
maybe the mother was at work...can u say single mom tryin to raise kid in tough economy
Nov 27, 2008 at 8:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
Inexperienced drivers? She shouldn't have been driving she didn't have a drivers license. Can you say lawsuit. Where was this girls mother? The kid should also get charged with operating motor vehicle without owner's consent.
Nov 27, 2008 at 8:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
Why do inexperienced drivers think they have Superman capes on?
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.