Sally Draper got behind the wheel of the car, barely tall enough to see over the dash, but eager enough to instinctively place her hands at the ten and two positions. Grandpa Gene was in the passenger seat with his foot reaching over to tap the gas and brake pedals when needed. They were going to the store to buy some fruit and it was a lovely day in the summer of 1963.
It was also a work of fiction, written by the television staff of “Mad Men” for an episode of their show last season. It was a touching scene of innocence and nostaglia forty-plus years ago, but the harmful possibility of a child behind the wheel became brutal wake-up to call for one family’s fatal car accident where an 11-year-old driver ran a stop sign.
What was a boy barely old enough to do long division doing the the driver’s seat is the question our auto accident attorneys are asking. Why did he run a stop sign, besides the fact that he was not a licensed and qualified driver? And why did such a tragic accident have to result in three wrongful deaths?
Children should not be driving until they are of age and licensed (Source: AMC.com)
The answers are still unclear. All that is known is that Elizabeth Silva Covarrubias, 6, and her mother, Maria Covarrubias, 30, were not wearing their seatbelts at the point of impact. Thus, both were ejected from the vehicle when Maria’s 11-year-old son Jose Manuel Silva Covarrubias recklessly drove through a stop sign and slammed into another car crossing the intersection.
Perhaps some clarity will be added to this untimely accident when the sole survivor of the accident, Froylon Gonzalez, 34, a family friend, is released from the hospital where he is currently undergoing medical treatment for his personal injuries sustained in the crash.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and our firm’s auto accident attorneys are at a loss. When Sally Draper drivers down the road, underage and under-qualified, there is a certain innocence of days gone by connected with the image. But this is today and the whatever scrap of innocence is lost for a child – hardly even a teen driver – behind the wheel when you see the horrific reality it can create.
How do you feel about this story? What are your thoughts on children in the driver’s seat, even with adult supervision? Do you know any similiar experiences that you would be willing to share?
If you or a loved one have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, then we urge you to contact our bilingual offices as soon as possible at 1-800-655-6585 or please click here for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you owe us nothing until we recover money on your behalf.
About Michael PinesMichael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.
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Tags: Child Drivers, fatal car accident, Mad Men, Running A Stop Sign
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