A rollover crash on I-26 that sent six people to the hospital is being blamed on driver inexperience. According to the Times-News, the 15-year-old driver was licensed in South Carolina and had some type of conditional or provisional license, also known as a “learner’s permit.” Apparently, the teen driver’s vehicle drifted to the right shoulder of the road and hit a section of rumble strips. The driver then jerked the steering wheel and overcorrected the Mazda SUV. The vehicle flipped over on the roadway.

Two Juvenile Occupants Ejected from Car
All six occupants in the vehicle were hospitalized, and at least one of them had to be airlifted from the scene. Two unidentified juveniles were ejected from the vehicle, but thankfully they landed in the median away from the wreckage. There were apparently six people, including other children in the car that only had seats for five. It’s important to note that learner’s permits are only recognized in the state that they’re issued in. A North Carolina learner’s permit is only recognized in North Carolina, and the same goes for South Carolina.

National Teen Driver Safety Week
We recently reported on the upcoming National Teen Driver Safety Week. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is hoping to raise awareness about the safety concerns facing teen drivers across the country. In addition to issues like driving under the influence and distracted driving, parents are also being asked to limit peer passengers to no more than one at a time. Additional teen passengers can increase the crash risk for new drivers. Finally, the importance of seatbelts can’t be overstated when setting out rules for new drivers. Everybody, including passengers and parents, should be buckled up for every trip.

After a Crash Involving a Teen Driver
After any type of crash where another person’s negligent, careless or willfully dangerous actions caused your injury, it’s important to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. As of Sunday night, at least three of the victims were still in critical condition, but there’s no word on the extent of their injuries or their current conditions. The team at Davis Law Group, P.A. wishes everybody involved in the crash speedy and full recoveries from their injuries.