Four students died in a Columbia car accident as they headed out to Lake of the Ozarks for a weekend shopping trip. The teens reportedly just kicked off their celebration of the end of the school year and their gradations.
The campus of Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla was quiet as students and faculty remember the lost students, according to KY3.
Our Columbia car accident attorneys understand the risks that young drivers face as they're less experienced behind the wheel of a motor-vehicle and are more susceptible to driving distractions. While we expect college drivers to obtain more driving experience and to also practice more mature decision making habits behind the wheel, it is still not uncommon for them to be involved in serious or fatal car accidents. With the spring and summer months upon us, teens and college student drivers will be hitting our roads in full force.
"One of the students was actually planning to go visit his family in India on Tuesday," says Venkat Allada, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies at Missouri S&T.
The accident happened on a Sunday morning when the students were returning from their shopping trip. They were heading west on Highway 42 in Miller County at nearly 11:00 a.m. when the car crossed over the center line and was hit broadside by a pickup truck.
Friends and students passed along rumors about the condition of one driver stating he was reportedly critically injured. Students heard no news about the other passengers. It wasn't until nearly four hours after the incident that the student body was informed about the four fatalities. They were all pronounced dead at the scene.
"We are absolutely shocked and saddened by this," says Allada.
The driver of the pickup truck refused medical treatment and his passenger only suffered moderate injuries. The young men in the pickup truck were all graduate students from Missouri University of Science and Technology too.
Car accidents are the number one cause of death for new college graduates and those ages 25 to 29.
Insure4USA offers these tips to college students to help keep them safe on our roadways before, during and after each semester:
-Avoid drinking and driving. Students are urged to not fall victim to peer pressure or the trap of being persuaded to drive friends home after a long night of partying. Drinking and driving greatly heightens your risk of being in a serious accident. Many students suffer from "invincibility complex" which gives them the mindset that nothing can happen to them. Truth is, something can happen, and it can be deadly.
-Consider taking safe driving courses. Insurance rates are typically higher for younger drivers, even those attending college. Enrolling and completing a safe driving course will not only to help save you money that can be redirected towards school books or tuition, but it can also help you gain important knowledge and experience.
If you or your teen is dealing with an accident in Fulton, Boonville, Hannibal, Linn or the surrounding area, call 1-888-777-AUTO (2886) or 573-449-5500 today for a confidential consultation to discuss your rights.
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