11-year-old driver runs stop sign in central California, killing him, mother and sister

[undeterred]

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Investigators were mystified Wednesday as to why an 11-year-old boy was behind the wheel when the car ran a stop sign and crashed into another vehicle, killing him, his mother and younger sister.

California Highway Patrol Officer Stefanie Buck said investigators have not yet been able to interview the car's lone survivor to determine why sixth-grader Jose Manuel Silva Covarrubias was driving.

"For whatever reason the 11-year-old didn't stop at the stop sign, and drove the Honda into the path of the Ford," Buck said. "It's a tragedy any way you look at it."

His sister, Elizabeth Silva Covarrubias, 6, and their mother, Maria Covarrubias, 30, both of Woodville, were also killed in the accident. Neither the mother nor daughter was wearing a seatbelt, and both were ejected from the back seat.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-child-driver-fatalities,0,4477552.story

:shrug:

[cutlassmama]

1. My ex-husbands' mother would have him drive at that age. The reason

was that she was an alcoholic and regularly needed him to driver her places because she was always smashed.

Not saying that was the case here though.

[luvspeas]

2. this was my first thought...

your ex mo-in-law was not the only one.

[Xenotime]

3. So sad that so many lives were robbed...

while other pathetic excuses for ones continue on...

[Poll_Blind]

4. I keep thinking I understand the realm of human stupidity- and I am ALWAYS proved wrong.

I dunno if everyone read the full article but while the mother and sister were in the back seat a 34 year-old family friend was in the passenger seat- the one who was not killed more or less instantly and is in the hospital.

So you got a 34 year old, a 30 year old, an 11 year old (driving) and a six year old. It's like "What's wrong with this picture?" Jesus Christ.

Although they weren't clear in the section when they reported that drugs and/or alcohol didn't appear to be a factor in the crash, I'm assuming that the accident is so out of the ordinary that it means nobody in the car (specifically mother and friend) had anything in their blood.

So that leaves the worst kind of negligence. I originally came in here to read about the awful nightmarish situation in Haiti- my heart goes out to those people- and this story caught my eye. Obviously, my heart goes out to those killed and injured in this accident too but it is so senseless. So goddamned senseless.

What a crazy world.

PB

[shraby]

5. Could it possibly be this scenario?

Mother is taking care of the child in the back seat for some reason, possibly medical. The adult in the front had no idea how to drive or read English for the signs or wasn't familiar with the area and they needed to get to the hospital quickly. The 11 year old had probably a tiny bit of experience behind the wheel..many boys that age have. Could he have been driving them to the hospital?

Edited to add.

[undeterred]

7. There is a survivor, so maybe we'll find out.

I thought it might have something to do with language... but an 11 year old boy is still not big enough to be behind the wheel. I just can't imagine any situation where this would be a good idea, even in an emergency.

[LisaL]

9. Have you ever heard of calling 911?

[Brickbat]

6. First thing I think, the adults are drunk and this isn't the first time the kid has had to do this.

Sad, no matter what turns up.

[flvegan]

8. I feel horrible for the driver of the Ford.

Of course, I feel terrible for the family and friends of the boy, his sister and his mom. Such a tragedy. However that Ford driver has to live with killing two children and their mother. Not a memory I'd like to go to bed with each night.

[LisaL]

10. The driver of the Ford didn't kill two children and their mother.

The article says the boy run a stop sign and into the Ford.