Posted on 11/12/2005 5:38:47 AM PST by ShadowDancer
Rescue 4 Investigates Driver's Ed After Teen Crash
Teenager Speaks About Crash That Killed Best Friend
POSTED: 4:27 pm EST November 11, 2005
A teenage girl spoke for the first time to Local 4 about a crash that claimed her best friend's life. Rescue 4 exposed a missing component in driver's education that may have made a difference in the fatal crash.
The accident occurred along Interstate 75. No drugs, alcohol or excessive speeds were involved, Rescue 4 reported. Investigators cited the main problem as inexperience.
Rescue 4 questioned whether state driver's education classes are teaching enough.
"I blame myself. There is no way of getting around that. It was my fault. I was the driver," said Vitana Passalacqua.
Passalacqua (pictured, right) recently spoke about the tragedy that occurred a year ago with Rescue 4.
"If I had known what I know now, I think I would have been able to save my best friend," said Passalacqua.
On Dec. 26, Passalacqua and her best friend, Marissa DiStefano, 15, headed to Mount Holly to go snowboarding. The weather was perfect, but then things took a turn for the worse when the girls drove home on Interstate 75 in the family's Hummer, Rescue 4 reported. Passalacqua was behind the wheel.
Police said it appeared the driver hit an ice patch.
Passalacqua said she pumped the brakes, lost control, and the Hummer flipped. Twisted metal, broken glass, and inches away, her best friend, DiStefano, was dead, Rescue 4 reported.
"I have full responsibility for whatever happened. And I do get down on myself a lot," said Passalacqua. "I have moments when I'm alone where I start crying."
Investigators said no alcohol or drugs were involved in the fatal accident. Passalacqua faced a charge of vehicular homicide, which was later dismissed. But her probation officer wanted Passalacqua to learn a valuable lesson, so she required her to take defensive driving classes, which changed her life.
"It's just being inexperienced, not knowing how to handle emergencies, changes on the road," said Kathy Cojanu, Passalacqua's probation officer.
The only problem was that no defensive driving classes were offered in the state of Michigan, Rescue 4 reported. Classes were offered to drive trucks defensively, but nothing offered for car drivers, Rescue 4 reported.
Passalacqua ended up at Mid-Ohio School in Dublin, Ohio, about three and a half hours south of Detroit.
"I hate to say it, but driver ed training in this country is not even close to being up to par. They don't teach anything about how to get yourself out of a situation," said Billy Edwards of Mid-Ohio School.
The school has a combination of classroom training and real-life behind-the-wheel experience.
Teenage metro Detroiters travel all the way here just because their parents want them to be better drivers, and because defensive driving classes are not offered in Michigan, Rescue 4 reported.
"I would recommend this to every kid I know," said Jamie Miennillif of West Bloomfield.
Students learn how to handle a skid and spinout; how to brake properly; how to gain control of their car; lessons not learned in driver's education, Rescue 4 reported.
After taking the class, Passalacqua learned what she did wrong the night her best friend died.
"I was supposed to slam on the brakes instead of pumping them. That's what caused my car to spinout," said Passalacqua.
Passalacqua had anti-lock brakes, investigators believe pumping them caused the spinout, Rescue 4 reported. If the teenager had that knowledge and behind-the-wheel training, she believes her friend may be alive today, Rescue 4 reported.
"If I had known what I know now, I think I would have had a chance to save my best friend. And I would like to show them that this class is the real thing. This class could save somebody's life," said Passalacqua.
Passalacqua has spent countless hours traveling to schools and universities to share her story with young people. She and her mother are also working with State Rep. Ed Gaffney to push for legislation that would require teenagers to take defensive-driving training before they get a driver's license, Rescue 4 reported. Gaffney told Rescue 4 that he is very interested in the issue.
Some years ago around here a driver's ed car with 3 kids and a teacher were rear-ended at a stop light by a guy going 100. The first kid through the rear window broke his neck and died. The next kid through broke both legs. None of the passengers had seat belts on. Teacher survived and got in a BIT of trouble.
So lets see, a 15 or 16 year old is driving a 6000 lbs+ Hummer to the snow with her best friend and no one else.
Does anyone else see a problem here?
When I took drivers ed here in Michigan we had good instructors who taught us right. We were required to drive a stick shift, change tires, check fluid levels etc. We could even elect for a few extra classes in driving a pickup truck that included pulling a trailer. (we were a farming community)
There were very few of us who didn't already know how to drive.
Absolutely and I thought the same thing when it happened. No way would I let either of my kids do that at that age even in my Taurus.
"It's the one component of driving my stepdad continuously pounded into my head."
I was thinking along the same lines. My parents didn't expect a driver's ed class to teach me everything. They spent time in the car with me. Defensive driving instruction is a great idea, but my driver's ed classes didn't include them either. Parents need to assess whether their kids are ready for a license, and if they don't feel comfortable about it, get out in the car with your kid and give him/her more experience.
I took it at the Y here but none of that was required. All my driving skills that really mattered were taught to me by my stepdad. I had to drive with him through a full winter, learn to drive a stick and learn to change the oil, spark plugs and tires before they even thought about letting me get past just my permit.
Absolutely.
People feel invinsible in those vehicles. I hate Hummers and all the arrogance and glutony they stand for.
And how do you teach exerience? And what if some kid gets in a car that doesn't have anti-lock brakes? Not all people can afford to place their little darlings in a $60,000 vehicle.
That's the first thing I noticed in the article.
That's too much vehicle for a teenager.
Drivers ed here uses small compact cars and other sedans. A heavy Hummer has a much greater stopping distance and handles way differently than a car.
WHoever handed a 15 year old the keys to a 6000lb Hummer needs a brain transplant.
If anything I think the Hummer gave the girls and their parents a false sense of security.
Our teachers all lived locally and didn't want to share the roads with a bunch of inexperienced kids. Luckilly most of us could drive by the time we were 13 or so.
No mention if the kid was wearing a seat belt?
When I was learning to drive I drove on dirt roads in Georgia, and when they were wet, they were slip-sliding slaloms, (GA Clay).
New drivers should have a circuit with mud, water, pavement, etc. to learn how to handle loss of control properly, how excessive speed can contribute an accident, etc.
My son totaled his "new car" a 1988 Ford Crown Victoria when he hit black ice at 35 mph and slid off the road accross a culvert, which forcibly removed the left wheel assembly.
A demolition derby approach with "beaters" in a controlled environment witht he proper safety eqpt. would go a long ways to ensure we have a generation of safe/COMPETENT drivers.
?? This is right out of the NC Highway patrol website
Avoid skidding in icy, rainy, or snowy conditions by gradually reducing speed. Start to move into second or high gear and slowly release the clutch (manual transmission) or use second gear (automatic transmission). Pump the brakes gently to slow the car down. It gives the tires more traction.
I think it's been pretty much established that there is no correlation between Drivers Ed and accidents among teenagers. What causes most teenage accidents is hormones.
I do have to commend her on taking the blame and stepping up to the plate. She has pointed the finger at a lack of defensive driving courses, but she did not blame anyone else. This quality is few and far between in todays generation.
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