Posted on 10/12/2006 5:36:38 AM PDT by laotzu
HUMBLE, Texas -- A mother was killed by the family van being driven by her 12-year-old son.
The boy crashed the van through a dental office wall on Tuesday, killing his mother and injuring two others, authorities said.
Lisa Lewis was standing outside the Monarch Dental Associates office in Humble, Texas, when she was killed.
Officials said Lewis had just finished her dental appointment shortly after 2 p.m. and let her two sons, a 12-year-old boy and his 17-year-old brother, get their van so she would not get wet from the rain, Houston TV station KPRC reported.
The mother was outside talking with two office employees.
"They went out to get the van to bring it closer to get mom out of the rain. Instead of the 17-year-old driving the van, the 12-year-old was behind the wheel. When mom noticed it, she was waving her hands, like, 'What are you doing?' And speculation is that the boy panicked. Instead of hitting the brake, he hit the accelerator," said Johnnie Ray Scroggins, Humble spokesman.
The crash pushed his mother through the glass wall and injured two dental workers in the office reception area. The workers are hospitalized in critical but stable condition. They are expected to recover.
"I couldn't believe what I saw. Next thing I knew was he backed out and hit something backing out. I heard a scream," witness Mark Rabinovitch said.
There were no reports of injuries to either of the two boys.
People could only speculate as to why the 12-year-old got behind the wheel.
"Little brother probably saying, 'I can do it. It's not that far. Let me do it. Let me do it.' And older brother said, 'Hey, go right ahead.' And it was unfortunate and a definite accident," Scroggins said.
This really is a sad, sad story. What life changing experience. The kid will never be the same, EVER
Very, very sad. A very small moment in time can cause so much grief. What a difference a minute or two can make! I am full of sorrow for this tragedy.
Pray for them, please. There are 8 children altogether from ages 5 or 6 up to around 20. They are also in need of money for the funeral. Send to: Vine Life Christian Fellowship, 910 Atascosita Rd., Huffman, TX 77336, noting that it is for the Lewis funeral fund. Thank you!
She thought her 17 year old WHO IS A LICENSED driver was going to be driving. If anything the 17 year old was negligent in letting his 12 year old brother drive.
She is not responsible.
huh? I'm so amazed at the insensitivity of some people! and I suppose that when my husband's father was having a heart attack while they were fishing together, his father was criminally negligent because he had my husband, who was then ONLY 14 years old, drive him to the hospital?? thank God his life was saved...
Prayers for the family, and especially these two brothers who will carry this with them for the rest of their lives.
It sounds like the 17 year old is the one who made the mistake.
What? The 17 year old was old enough to have a license. It sounds like she was expecting the older son to drive. How is that negligent? It was negligent of the 17 year old to allow the 12 year old to drive.
Oh, how sad. This child is going to live with this horror for the rest of his life. Prayers for this family.
So true, and out of nowhere like a bolt of lightning.
A mother should be able to expect her 17 year old to get a van from one side of a parking lot to another without incident.
Huh? Talk about "blaming the victim"! How in Heaven's name is the MOM "criminally negligent"? The minimum age for a full license in Texas is 16, so for all you know the eldest son is a fully licensed driver. The mom was perfectly within her legal rights to request him to get the van, if this was the case.
I think both of the sons would be devastated. The 12 year old should have never been put in a position to cause this accident by his 17 year old brother. I'm sure the 17 year old will have to live with guilt about his actions for the rest of his life.
Oh my, I'm so sorry, G_T_M!! They have my prayers - they will need them to get through this, especially the 12 year old boy.
Okay, that I'll buy, partially.. The 17 year old made a really bad choice - it is negligence is on his part. And it is still criminal. But the mother didn't make such a good choice relying on a 17 year old driver, either.
I feel sorry for the survivors and worse for his mom. They're going to hurt for a long time.
But the "insensitivity" charge bothers me not at all.
Another friend said she really feels for the mother because you know that all she wants to do is to hold her son and comfort him. I'm going to cry...
and what makes you think that I thought you'd be bothered by the charge? After-all, you're insensitive! lol!
So sorry to hear this. I can't even imagine the grief this family is feeling. Eight kids now without a mom. Prayers for the father and the responsibility now on his shoulders.
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