The risk of fatal car and boat accidents are higher during spring break, with younger drivers at the greatest risk of an accident. Drunk driving accidents are the greatest threat, but boating accidents and other fatal incidents are more common during spring break.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), traffic fatalities are 9% higher among drivers under the age of 25 during spring break.
IMAGE: PEXELS
“Data shows that female students drink as many as 10 drinks a day, while male students drink up to 18 drinks a day,” says attorney Matthew L. Sharp. “Binge drinking leads to serious injuries including alcohol poisoning, brain damage, and death.”
A case from Sugarland, Texas is a prime example of how spring break can be dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians. A woman, Daisy Joy Decker, pleaded guilty to driving drunk into a crowd of people during spring break 2017, killing a 19-year-old college student.
Decker had been under the influence of alcohol and drugs when she swerved into a bike lane, hitting a group of people. Her actions led to one death and several injuries.
Decker pleaded guilty to a charge of intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle, one count of an accident involving serious bodily injury, one count of an accident involving injury and one count of intoxicated assault with a vehicle causing bodily injury. Decker was ultimately sentenced to 11 years in prison.
In the Florida Panhandle, a 15-year-old boy from Pell City, Alabama was killed during spring break of this year when he fell out of a pickup truck and was hit by another motorist. The boy had been riding in the back of a pickup truck. The driver had no idea the boy had fallen out until he reached his destination.
In addition to fatal car accidents, spring break is also prime-time for boating accidents. With warmer weather and time off, more people spend time out on the water. Reckless behaviors on the water can lead to severe injuries or even death.
Drowning accidents are also common during spring break, as more people engage in water-related activities. This year, we saw at least one drowning in Hawaii.
A 63-year-old woman and a 5-year-old boy died in a kayak accident during a spring break camp program in March. Both drowned during the kayaking trip after their kayak overturned. It is unclear whether the two individuals were wearing life vests on the water, but rescue workers said they did not find life vests.
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