Rescue 4 Investigates Driver's Ed After Teen Crash

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.

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.

So you are personally acquainted with the Washington morons that think buying a 4 wheel drive will solve their snow driving problems!

It's not only the 4WD morons, it's the ones like me who grew up down South and move up there. My wife and I drove up to Snoqualmie Pass to see the snow the first Fall we were there. It was drizzling down in Redmond. We figured it was superhighway Interstate all the way to the pass ... so how bad could it get? Things were fine (just wet, no ice) until we were a couple of miles from the pass, when we went around a curve and into a complete winter wonderland. I couldn't believe how fast conditions worsened. We were committed to continue because there was no way to turn around (massive pucker factor). Luckily, it was mostly snow on I-90 so we inched to the pass without incident.

We stayed at the Pass for a couple of hours and didn't realize how intense the snowstorm was. By the time we decided to leave, there was at least 6" of snow on the car! Fortunately, I had bought chains a week before and managed to get them on the rear tires (and poking my numb fingers many times with loose metal wires on the damn things).

Anyway, the whole episode drove the point into my miniscule brain that you don't f*** around with Mother Nature in the winter. Things can close in on you in a hurry. It was almost 15 years ago and I can still see that moment when we went around the curve into the winter wonderland. I think I've finally de-puckered now...

It would be better to provide a few skid training cars. They have casters that can be raised and lowered to reduce traction and simulate icy conditions in a controlled fashion.

But, no amount of training will substitute for common sense. Kids need to learn that no vehicle will completely protect them when they hit ice and that there are times when an inexperienced driver should just stay home or get a ride from a better driver.

I moved to NC from being born and raised in S. Fla. Never saw snow fall until I moved.
I'm afraid to drive on ice which we have more of than snow.
One thing I've learned is not to brake and turn at the same time.
Another is 4WD helps starting but not braking. Something many owners don't think of.

As for ABS brakes, I don't like them.
I found out one day that if you are braking on a rough road and one of your wheels bounces off the pavement the brakes go into ABS mode, essentially go away.
You have to let off the brakes and reapply.
Almost wrecked because of them. I know several people that did for, I suspect, that reason.

You don't really think that kid's know the first thing about 1. manual transmissions
2. locking rear differentials
3. true 4 wheel drive
4. anti-lock braking systems

You'd be surprised at the number of parental fools who buy a vehicle just because it has a 4x4 sticker on it, and later find out they have 2 wheel drive. Just toss the keys to the kids and gloat little Johnny/Jenna is 'safe' because daddy knows they are driving something big--with that 4x4 sticker.

LOL

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