A group of young drivers were involved in a street racing car accident in Kearny Mesa last week resulting in the tragic death of two teenagers and critically injuring another in what’s said to be one of the worst teen auto accidents in the area.

The accident occurred Wednesday, April 4 at around 11:45 p.m. on State Route 52 in Kearny Mesa, according to San Diego 6, when a group of three teens in a Volkswagen Passat raced another group of three teens in a Volvo S40. Both drivers lost control over their vehicles as they skidded off the road at nearly 100 to 110 m.p.h.

The three passengers in the Volvo all fortunately survived the crash. The driver of the vehicle, Michael S. Johnson, 18, of Lakeside, was booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of marijuana, and taking part in a speed contest resulting in injuries, according to San Diego 6.

The two passengers in the Volkswagen, 16-year-old Jayli Campbell and 18-year-old Anthony Foreman, were ejected from the rear seat and were killed at the scene of the accident. They were not equipped with seat belts according to reports. Front-seat passenger, Charlotte McQuillen, 16, survived the car accident although she was critically injured and in a coma until Monday. Her family is grateful for her survival.

“Her father said it was like having her born all over again,” said her family representative. “We are beside ourselves, of course. However, we are cautiously optimistic at this point. … She still has a very long road ahead.”

Teen car accidents in San Diego illuminate our community’s need to further educate young drivers on the dangers of speeding and reckless driving.  When a car accident occurs that could have been 100 percent preventable, the stakes and the devastation can often be at an all time high for the families of the injured and killed victims.

San Diego teen car accidents: prevention

As responsible parents, guardians, and community members, it’s our duty to help educate our young drivers on the dangers that come with the responsibility of driving. Driving is not a right, it’s a privilege.  Share these tips with your young drivers and do your part to prevent San Diego’s next teen car accident.

Sign a parent-teen contract

When teens are aware of the rules, they tend to be less likely to break them – especially if consequences are instated. Download our free parent-teen contract now and set the parameters for safe driving with your teen. It’s never too late to get started, even if your teen has already earned his or her driver’s license.

Enforce the rules

Every household must have set rules in place. Consistency and enforcement can make all the difference between a safe teen driver and a teen driver that poses danger to our roadways. On your parent-teen driving contract, be sure to list 5 to 10 zero-tolerance rules that would result in the removal of your teen’s driver’s license.

Have a DUI backup plan

Needless to say, most every teenager has engaged in some kind of unsafe activity at one point or another. While it’s important to create rules and enforce them, it’s a good idea to allow your teen to get free rides when their safety is compromised in the event of an emergency – even if it involves teen drinking. It’s never okay to let your teen drink, and consequences should still be enforced, but your teen should always be able to call you in an emergency.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is San Diego’s Accident & Injury Prevention Expert with a running column at La Jolla Light and founder of the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC. Michael is an experienced attorney specializing in car accidents and injury in San Diego. If you have been injured in a car accident, call Michael now for a free legal consultation at 1-800-655-6585. There are no fees until we win.

About Michael Pines

Michael 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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