Charged with driving while impaired, Christopher Philip May, 21, caused a two car accident that resulted in the death of his passenger, Matthew Lyle Achterman, 23. May and another passenger were treated for non-life threatening injuries and released. No one in the other car was injured.
When driving his Honda Civic east on Ligon Mill Rd near Greenville Loop, May drifted into the oncoming lane and hit the other car reported Trooper Burggraf Achterman was riding in the back seat, not wearing a seat belt, and was ejected from the car.
Statistics show males between the ages of 16 and 23 are the least likely to use their seat belts. They are additionally shown to have the highest rates of drunk driving and speeding. They simply have no rational fear of their mortality.
It’s estimated that 9500 people a year are saved due to seat belt usage. Amazingly enough, only 68% of people use their seat belts yet 60% of fatalities are directly attributable to lack of proper restraint.
A case decided in October, was upheld April 2008 by a Washington D.C. Court of Appeals. The ruling stated a passenger riding with a driver known to have consumed alcohol was 35% responsible for her own injuries.
BM