Six teen boys, all ages 14 and 15, were hurt Wednesday afternoon when a 15-year-old boy took his grandmother's SUV without her permission and took his friends on a high-speed joy ride and crashed, East County Magazine reported. The driver, a resident of Campo who did not have a driver's license or even a learner's permet, reportedly took his grandmother's 2003 white Chevrolet Tahoe SUV without her knowledge and picked up five of his friends at Mountain Empire High School in Pine Valley. The vehicle was apparently travelling at a high rate of speed on Buckman Springs Road when the driver failed to negotiate a curve and lost control of the vehicle. The SUV overturned numerous times before coming to rest on its wheels.
One of the teens was riding in the cargo area of the Chevy Tahoe and suffered serious internal injuries. He was flown by Mercy Air to Rady Children's Hospital. The other teens, including the driver, who all were wearing seat belts, were transported by ambulance to Grossmont Hospital and Alvarado Hospital.
Personal Injury Liability Issues
It is very fortunate for all involved that none of the six young men involved in this accident were killed. Hopefully, this incident will be an example for each of the teens of the dangers of speeding and driving irresponsibly. From a liability standpoint, this accident raises a number of legal questions and possibly complex issues. Ordinarily, the owner of a vehicle is liable for injuries sustained in an accident caused by a driver who had permission to use a vehicle. In some cases involving non-permissive use, negligence of the owner (such as leaving the keys in the ignition) could make the owner of the vehicle liable for the injuries of the five passengers. In situations such as this one, the parents of the injured passengers would be well-advised to talk to a San Diego personal injury lawyer about the Pine Valley accident, and the victims' rights to compensation in a personal injury claim.
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