A Jacksonville mother is sharing a warning for parents of teenage drivers after her son was burned and injured in a car accident on Saturday night. Tommy Goins, a fifteen-year-old, was sitting in the back seat of a car on Myrtle Avenue when the driver went off the road and crashed into a tree. The tire marks from that accident can still be seen.
"The last time I saw my son, he said, 'mom, see you later', and then comes that 'later', and my baby is completely burned," said Derlisa Laws, his mother. Pictures show her son lying in a hospital bed, with a ventilator, in an induced coma and burns covering most of his body.
"I never thought in a million years that I would be in a situation where my son would be in a hospital bed fighting for his life every minute," Laws said.
Tommy was one of three occupants of the car that went off the road and crashed into a tree. According to the police report, the driver was speeding and driving recklessly. Laws is sharing her story as a warning to other parents about reckless driving.
Something that experts from the American Automobile Association (AAA) claim starts with setting rules for the road.
"I think it's very important for parents to talk to their teenage children about the importance of always buckling up, being a safe passenger, both for teenage drivers and adults, and prohibiting teenage drivers from riding with other teenage drivers or transporting other teenagers during the learning-to-drive process. The important thing to remember is that teenage drivers still have little experience, it takes time to develop that experience," said Jenkins.
Jenkins even suggests creating a driving agreement between parents and children.
"For example, setting schedules for when they can drive, if they are allowed to carry other passengers in the vehicle and, of course, what kind of limitations will be imposed on technology," said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman.
Tommy has already undergone two surgeries and has a long way to go in his recovery, but his mother advocates for others to learn from his story.
"That's the message I'm trying to spread today, that these young people, when they come out here and start driving these cars, make sure they are mature enough. If they're going to take their friends in the car, take them from point A to point B," Laws said.
At this time, we do not know the condition of the other two people in the car.
Originally posted at Abogados de Accidentes
A horrific accident in Jacksonville has left a teenager in a medically induced coma with severe burns.
Topics: Accident Reports
May 03rd, 2023