Personal Injury Law

Rollover Kills Teen In Back Of Pickup

By Eddie Farah

A 16-year-old high school girl was killed early Monday morning when a pickup truck in which she was riding along with six others over corrected, then struck a curb and overturned. Miranda Zant, a student at Lee High School was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. We are so sorry for the loss of this young person. Our hearts go out to her family at this tragic time.

Six people in all were in the small pickup truck, three in the cab and three in the bed. All three in the bed were thrown out when the vehicle appeared to be traveling too fast around a curve in Bartram Park Boulevard, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Another passenger from the cab is also reported to be in critical condition and altogether four others were injured. The crash happened around 4 a.m. according to JSO, which also believes alcohol was involved.

Florida law restricts riding in the bed of a truck unless the person is over the age of 18 and restrained. Some vehicles actually have secure seating and seat belts to prevent someone from being thrown out. That was not the case here.

For riders 18 and older, there is no restriction on the number who can ride in a truck bed or whether animals are allowed in the back of pickup trucks. However, occupants are not allowed to hang out of the vehicles. This law needs to change.

Obviously it is dangerous to ride in the back of an open truck, which was originally designed to transport materials. In 2008, eight people were killed in a similar situation, while riding in the back of a truck in Florida. Putting pets in the back of vehicles makes no sense at all, especially if you care about them.

Expect charges to be filed as the sheriff's officers on the scene said they could smell alcohol on the driver.

Again, our condolences go out to the families involved. People writing on news web sites criticize the parents, which seems incredibly heartless in their time of grief. What parent has a leash on their teen, and what teen doesn't test the boundariess. A little civility would be most appreciated. #

Full post as published by Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer on July 28, 2009 (boomark / email).