From one of the stories by reporters Brandie Kessler and Carl Hessler Jr.:
In the 20 days that spanned Nov. 23 to Dec. 12, 2009, tragedy struck twice. In two crashes on two major roadways in the Pottstown tri-county area, four young lives were extinguished, two more were ruined, and countless lives were left forever changed.Read more at the newspaper's Web site.
For the people who knew Breanne Brothers, 15, Andrea Antonio-Harris, 16, Andrew Case, 17, and Michael Cantamaglia, 16, the void of their absence cannot be filled.
And while the effect of these tragic events ripples through communities leaving many asking how something so awful could happen and how it can be prevented from happening again, the fact is these incidents are not the first of their kind, and they will not be the last.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers. In 2008, about 3,500 teens ages 15 to 19 were killed in motor vehicle crashes. Nine teens ages 16 to 19 died every day in 2008 in vehicle crashes.
In Pennsylvania, the risks are even greater. The state is known for being among the most lenient in teen driving laws compared to neighboring states and most states throughout the country.
Nearly 80 percent of states limit the number of passengers a teen driver may carry in their vehicle.
Pennsylvania does not.
Originally postged at TONY PHYRILLAS
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