Just before 1:30 on Sunday, May 18th, a young man caused a very serious accident on Bellefontaine Road at Shepley Drive in St. Louis County, Missouri. A 17-year-old boy driving a Toyota Camry, uninsured, was running from the police on Bellefontaine Road traveling northbound, when he crossed over the center line and hit a Ram truck head-on. The Ram truck lost the load it was hauling, which hit another vehicle. The driver of the Toyota unfortunately died from injuries resulting in the crash, and killed an occupant of the same vehicle. Two others in the vehicle were severely injured, as were two adults in the Ram truck. They were all taken to local hospitals via ambulance.
Reckless driving is a thoughtless crime that is almost never victimless. Driving recklessly, running from the police, and ultimately taking lives in the process are among the most heinous of offenses one could commit on the road. Speed limits, double yellow lines, and passing/no passing zones are crucial to maintaining our safety, and they only do their job if every car follows them properly. In an effort to prevent serious injuries and deaths at the hands of another driver, we should continue to abide by these laws even when others don’t. Furthermore, the criminals that act above the law and cause serious injuries and deaths should be punished to the fullest extent—it’s imperative that all drivers know this sort of behavior won’t come without consequences.