most of these stories I read about with passengers the drivers usually walk away.

If I recall correctly in SoCal recently there was a situation that involved alcohol where the driver survives and all the passengers also passed. I think the car fell off an overpass

RIP

I believe the driver was the only one wearing a seat belt.

The car is designed to protect the driver area first and foremost

I actually pass this area all the time. The road itself was designed to be picturesque with sweeping hills and curves. It's a parkway and wasn't designed for high speeds, especially when the conditions were less than ideal. It was around 4 in the morning, so that road was pretty empty. It's tempting to drive fast on that stretch, especially if you're a 17 year old kid in an Sti. The curve where it happens comes up quick on you. Throw in the fact that he was unskilled, high on weed at the time, speeding and likely distracted and you have a recipe for certain disaster. The parents are idiots for even buying him this thing...and worst for not knowing where thier son was at 4 in the morning. Such a sad story all around. Knowing the driver killed four of his friends the rest of his life is going to be a punishment worst than death.

Not 100% true. If you look at the pictures of the car, it's in two pieces. No amount of engineering, short of a roll cage is going to absorb that much of an impact. He survived because he had a seatbelt on while everyone else was ejected from the car. The fact is, these kids think they're immortal.

To be honest not even a roll cage could stop trees. I think it would of been crushed regardless

I think you might be right. He must have hit the thing doing well over 80mph.

oh man this is sad, parents are def to blame, you can't let a 17 year old drive on a drivers permit without someone 21 or older in the car.:rolleyes:

RIP to the killed, and condolences to the families.

It seems like the main reason for the fatalities is the passengers where not wearing their seatbelts? Otherwise it seems odd for them to all be ejected from the car.

I am amazed that anyone (in this day and age) would not wear their seatbelt. Anyone who doesn't wear their seatbelt is risking their life in a relatively minor accident everytime they get in the car. I don't understand how people don't wear their seatbelt...

The car is in two pieces from the impact. Hard to tell if seatbelts would have made a difference.

^^^^ I agree. Enough force to rip the car. Probably did not make a difference.

I am deeply saden by this news. It strikes way too close to home. I won't bore with that crap.

A few years back my wife and I took a test drive in an STi. She told me "you can't have one of these". I was in my early 40's........................Did the parents ever test drive the car the kid was getting? I would never put a car like that in the hands of a 17 year old. Big mistake.

As for all the other statements we don't know what transpired to why the kids ended up out on the road at 4 am. We don't know if the parents knew. Theres a lot we just don't know. We need to reserve judgement till the story comes out. I was 17 once, although it was sometime back, but I did a tons of stuff my parents never knew I did.

RIP over for the kids.

The parents of the teen are going to be sued hard insurance is not going to pay that. Not only loosing a child, but the aftermath of this. They are over too!

Something to be said about learning to drive and fast cars when you are a teenager. Don't do it.

A whole SERIES of poor decisions leading up to that mess....

Ridiculous.

Did you read this article? I've done a few stupid things in my life, and there's a reason to walk away and learn from it. Others are not as fortunate.

Man, 18, killed in southeast Wichita crash | Wichita Eagle

Okay, my first blunder was when I was 16 I drove an '87 200SX SE-V6. After learning to drive a stick for a few minutes, I jumped back in my car and made a left turn with more than adequate throttle. The road was wet and I spun the "tire" (open diff) making the left turn, lost control, and hit the curb. The next blunder was failing to negotiate the distance between the car and the crate next to the gas pump at QT.

I'm one of those kids who didn't have much coordination (not athletic), was slow to learn how to drive, and the only B I ever got in HS was driver's ed. I nearly hyperventilated several times learning how to drive. Well... years later I ended up with a 350Z for 6 years (at age 21), and look where I'm at now lol. I had a bit of fun in the Z in my younger years, but I was never involved in an accident with it other than minor scrapes. In the 370Z... same, except for the SUV that darted across the street.

I hadn't read the article in the Eagle yet...but I had read the article about the accident.

As a father, I question the judgement of parents who turn young, inexperienced drivers lose on the streets in brand new high powered cars. Kids that age lack the emotional development to understand the risks they are taking when driving....and obviously lack the driving experience to handle a car like that.

My daughter is 17 years old, she'll be 18 in December, and has been driving for a year. The thought of her out on the road even in my wife's old Civic makes me nervous due to her inexperience (which can only be gain by actually DRIVING, obviously.) But I prefer to stack the odds in her favor as best I can by putting her in a more manageable car.

The thought of her out on the streets in my Camaro? Or Z? A complete non-starter....that's just not a safe decision...for ANYONE....IMO.