In March, 16-year-old Urbana High School student Tyler Murray was killed in
a car crash off Md. 75. That tragedy shook UHS and the greater Urbana
community to the core. Now, five months following that terrible accident,
another tragedy may be in the making.

The Frederick County grand jury last week indicted the driver of the
vehicle on that fatal night, 18-year-old Nicholas Gaines, on a range of
very serious accusations, including three felony criminal charges --
manslaughter by automobile, homicide while under the influence of alcohol,
and homicide while impaired. The most serious of those charges,
manslaughter, carries a possible 10-year prison sentence.

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Statewide Survey Highlights Teens' Risky Driving Habits
Most teenage driving fatalities happen at night and, based on a survey by
TTI researchers, teens really are in the dark about the dangers associated
with nighttime driving. That was the message of an Austin news conference
conducted by the Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS) Program Oct. 30, just days
before the end of Daylight Saving Time.

"The teen driver safety problem has reached epidemic proportions—here in
Texas and around the world," Director Dennis Christiansen told members of
the news media gathered in the Texas State Capitol. "It's an urgent public
health crisis, and TTI has been working for years to better understand it.
Now, we not only know more about what causes the problem, we also know more
about how to address it."

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Every year, thousands of teenagers die in traffic crashes around the United
States.

The Washington area has seen several teenagers die in crashes in the last
few months. That's why News4 is broadcasting a four-part series designed to
help parents and teenagers better understand the risks and responsibilities
of getting the behind the wheel.

Read entire four part series.

Ray's Comment: This series was created in 2004. Since then, Maryland has
implemented tougher new driver requirements than reported in this story.

Maryland's Rookie Driver Program

Six teenagers have died in car crashes since October. The needless loss of
these young lives has devastated families, schools and the community. Not
all crashes result in death, however. Many crash victims suffer severe
trauma injuries that permanently alter their lives.

The following is a breakdown of the recent teen crashes investigated by the
Charles County Sheriff’s Office, including those that resulted in death or
serious injuries. Speed and driver error were contributing factors in all
the crashes.

Read entire article here.