Texas family dies while driving to Disney

[agavegirl1]

There are many cautionary messages to be learned from this tragedy. I, personally am stunned and saddened by this horrible event. I agree that the first responders deserve our prayers in addition to the survivors of the accident. The photo posted here is a sad reminder that, while Disney Vacations are wonderful memories, the most important part of the memory is with whom we share them.

I am so saddened by this. Prayers and thoughts to all affected.

 

[mmullena70]

How tragic! Prayers are definitely being said for this family.

 

[Schmeck]

Does Texas have a seat belt law? How about the other states they drove through? This is just so shocking to me - two teachers and their own children were not safely restrained? I just had a seat-belt talk with my elderly, overweight mother who refuses to wear one, even though a friend of hers died in a car accident because she was not wearing her seat belt, and another friend got seriously injured just this past weekend from a car accident where he was not wearing one. It just seems so selfish to me, and my thoughts and prayers are with the children who survived. I hope they go to therapy to help them work through this senseless tragedy.

 

[nugov2]

and wear your seatbelts. those you died in this accident were not

And the 4 and 7yr old were not in car seats/booster seats. So tragic, if they were following safety guidelines it most likely would have been a very different scenario. I know you are tired when driving a long distance, but to unbuckle is not wise for this reason. I just don't get why the younger two were not in car seats/booster seats( I guess if the 7 year old is big, but no excuse for a 4 yr old. My 4 yr old is still in a 5pt harness).

 

[lmcarr49]

I read in Texas, if your 4 years old and are 42 inches tall then you don't have to be in a car seat or booster seat. And adults not sitting in the front row don't have to wear seat belts.

 

[NewRVLady]

The sad part , to me, is a 16 year old is a NEW driver.
Most states have restrictions on newer drivers driving after dark
And this happened at 11 pm.
Terribly sad for this child

 

[lmcarr49]

The sad part , to me, is a 16 year old is a NEW driver.
Most states have restrictions on newer drivers driving after dark
And this happened at 11 pm.
Terribly sad for this child

This was definitely a mistake on the parents part. So sad!

 

[bookluvingbabe]

Awful.

We've made the drive and we don't overnight. Ever. We don't even really drive when it gets dark.

Lost an amazing friend in college when he fell asleep and lost control.

It isn't worth saving time or money.

 

[ChicagoMom]

I read in Texas, if your 4 years old and are 42 inches tall then you don't have to be in a car seat or booster seat. And adults not sitting in the front row don't have to wear seat belts.

I was curious so I googled. According to this, children under 7 and 57 inches must be in child safety seat (could be a booster seat). https://www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/defective-products/car-seat/car-seat-laws/texas.html

This says the driver and all passengers must wear seatbelts. http://www.dmv.org/tx-texas/safety-laws.php It also mentions carseat laws which are slightly different than the link above. Perhaps they've been revised? Regardless, it seems clear that TX would require at least the 4 YO to be in a carseat and the rest of the passengers to wear seatbelts.

I'm sorry for the family but this really makes me angry. We all make mistakes as parents and most of us are lucky enough to not have those mistakes end so tragically but neglecting carseats and seatbelts aren't simple mistakes these days. Everyone knows how important they are. I can't think of the last time I've seen an acquaintance of ours drive off without their children properly secured in the car. That's like smoking or drinking when pregnant. Just not done.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I read in Texas, if your 4 years old and are 42 inches tall then you don't have to be in a car seat or booster seat. And adults not sitting in the front row don't have to wear seat belts.

http://www.dmv.org/tx-texas/safety-laws.php

All passengers and the driver of an operating vehicle in Texas must use a seat belt, if available.

You must secure any child under 8 years old in a federally approved child car seat while operating the vehicle, unless the child is more than 4'9" tall.

Accident in Louisiana, Louisiana law would apply.

http://www.dmv.org/la-louisiana/safety-laws.php

You must wear a seat belt at all times while riding in a vehicle in Louisiana, regardless of whether you are the driver or a passenger. Failure to do so will result in tickets and fines, the amounts of which are determined by LA state law.

The Child Occupant Seatbelt Law requires children from 6 - 12 years old to be restrained by a lap belt, shoulder harness, or an age/size appropriate child safety or booster seat

http://www.lsp.org/pdf/child_passenger_seat.pdf

 

[lmcarr49]

I'm sorry for the family but this really makes me angry. We all make mistakes as parents and most of us are lucky enough to not have those mistakes end so tragically but neglecting carseats and seatbelts aren't simple mistakes these days. Everyone knows how important they are. I can't think of the last time I've seen an acquaintance of ours drive off without their children properly secured in the car. That's like smoking or drinking when pregnant. Just not done.

We all buckle up. I would never have my family in the car without seat belts on. I'm wondering what the parents were thinking?! 1, no seat belts and 2, letting the 16 year old drive at night. This accident did not have to happen. Pisses me off too.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I've driven to WDW before from nj. This is one if my biggest fears and why I don't want to drive ever again. And refuse to drive overnight.

My kids bug me the whole time to unbuckle so they can get comfortable. I always say no. But I can see how mom night have thought it was ok for a little bit.

So sad.

 

[amwildwood]

I've driven to WDW before from nj. This is one if my biggest fears and why I don't want to drive ever again. And refuse to drive overnight. .

Glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks this way. Driving long distances worries me - getting tired, dealing with kids, other drivers, etc. my risk tolerance has lowered as I've gotten older. We're always buckled up in the car and make sure belts are snugged up. I have a back up camera and sensors and still make my kids be quiet when backing up or tricky traffic so I can concentrate.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Dawnlight]

I haven't stopped thinking of this family since reading the news. I look at this family, read the ages, and see my family. We're a family of 8, 4 boys and 2 girls; I have a teenage son who will be getting his permit soon (we've held off a year instead of getting it at 16). They were on their way to making life-long memories, and now the remaining children will have the burden of this life-long tragedy.

It's just so, so awful. Those poor surviving children, their grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends...

We drive a 12 passenger van and have done long trips from MA to D.C, but we also have everyone in seatbelts, and my 9 year old twins and 11 year old son are still in boosters, and will be until they outgrow them by weight/height.

My prayers go out to those involved and the first responders.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I'm sorry for the family but this really makes me angry. We all make mistakes as parents and most of us are lucky enough to not have those mistakes end so tragically but neglecting carseats and seatbelts aren't simple mistakes these days. Everyone knows how important they are. I can't think of the last time I've seen an acquaintance of ours drive off without their children properly secured in the car. That's like smoking or drinking when pregnant. Just not done.

Exactly.

It also isn't a simple mistake to allow your brand new driver to drive at night, in an area in which he is unfamiliar, when he is tired enough to fall asleep.

 

[IWannaBuildASnowman]

My god. That poor family. That poor kid who was driving.

There were many, many mistakes made here, from the seat belts to the tired drivers to having the inexperienced driver drive at night. I hope others learn from them. And peace to the survivors. God. I feel nauseous thinking about this. Heading for a wonderful family vacation and this happens.

 

[Disneychick75]

Does Texas have a seat belt law? How about the other states they drove through? This is just so shocking to me - two teachers and their own children were not safely restrained? I just had a seat-belt talk with my elderly, overweight mother who refuses to wear one, even though a friend of hers died in a car accident because she was not wearing her seat belt, and another friend got seriously injured just this past weekend from a car accident where he was not wearing one. It just seems so selfish to me, and my thoughts and prayers are with the children who survived. I hope they go to therapy to help them work through this senseless tragedy.

Louisiana where the accident happened:
Under age 1 (or <20 lbs.) in rear-facing child safety seat
Ages 1 - 3 (or 20 - 39 lbs.) in forward-facing child safety seat
Ages 4 - 5 (or 40 - 60 lbs.) in booster seat
Anyone over 60 lbs. has to wear a seat belt in any seat of a vehicle.

 

[bumbershoot]

It's just so awful.

When people post about driving all night to get to WDW sooner, it just hurts my brain. I did that crazy stuff when I was 20 and in the prime of reaction time and vision. By the time I was 22 I was done with it. When I drove solo cross country (the long long avoiding snow way) at 26 I took a week to do it and closely monitored the number of hours I drove without a break. I guess maybe having a dad who was a Greyhound (during Greyhound's Union years) driver really keyed me in on driver safety.

There is more to it than family members not wearing seatbelts.

Oh, not really. The article is slightly confusing, but it seems that the people who were ejected weren't wearing seatbelts. They were the ones that died. It's hard to be ejected if you're in a proper seatbelt. If all were in proper, fitting, seatbelts, some still might have died, but I think the chances would have been lower. The only ones that died ended up outside of the car...

And the 4 and 7yr old were not in car seats/booster seats. So tragic, if they were following safety guidelines it most likely would have been a very different scenario. I know you are tired when driving a long distance, but to unbuckle is not wise for this reason. I just don't get why the younger two were not in car seats/booster seats( I guess if the 7 year old is big, but no excuse for a 4 yr old. My 4 yr old is still in a 5pt harness).

Different states have different laws. And sometimes it's hard to figure out what the laws even are. This family might have been going by the laws from when the 16 year old was a baby, and might not have been aware that things had changed.

So sad.

 

[tajz90]

The sad part , to me, is a 16 year old is a NEW driver.
Most states have restrictions on newer drivers driving after dark
And this happened at 11 pm.
Terribly sad for this child

Exactly.

It also isn't a simple mistake to allow your brand new driver to drive at night, in an area in which he is unfamiliar, when he is tired enough to fall asleep.

A 16 yr old in Texas can't drive after midnight. Drivers Ed requires 1/2 of the hours practiced must be at night so the driver had enough experience to drive or at least according to the state.

We know several families that drive through the night to Florida. One drives while the others sleep. Not saying this is what the family was doing, but it would be the likely reason they were unbuckled.

I'm heartbroken for the family. We're never promised tomorrow. I pray for all who are traveling by car to stay safe and be vigilant.

 

[pigletto]

Heartbreaking.