‘Lucky to be alive’: Teen crashes truck after leaving underage drinking party
LYONS, Kan. (KWCH/Gray News) - Authorities in Kansas say a 16-year-old driver is lucky to be alive after a rollover crash that happened as a result of drinking and driving.
Rice County Sheriff Nick Sowers says a 16-year-old boy left an underage drinking party Saturday night and got behind the wheel. The teenager was involved in a rollover crash on a dirt road and suffered serious injuries, KWCH reports.
Authorities say the teen is lucky to be alive.
“This could’ve been a time where a mother was forever ing that her child died on Mother’s Day,” Sowers said.
The sheriff’s office shared photos of the pickup truck involved in the crash with a smashed hood and cab in a Facebook post.
“I am very happy that not one of my deputies had to go and give a death notification to a mother,” Sowers said. “That is the last thing we want to do.”
Sowers says in this case, the 16-year-old and other teenagers at a party were drinking with adults present. He says the adults involved will be held responsible for hosting and allowing an underage drinking party on their property.
“If you’re going to provide your child with alcohol, do it with all the factors in mind and realize that you’re opening yourself up to the potential of something like this to happen, and is it really worth it in the end?” Sowers said.
The sheriff’s office will also be pursuing charges related to the crash.
“We understand that this happens. We get it, but when this kiddo left and got onto the roadway and is affecting the rest of the motoring public is where we really had the issue and why we’re wanting to hold the line on this one,” Sowers said.
The sheriff’s office is urging teens who have been drinking to call them or a trusted adult before getting behind the wheel. They say they won’t judge or press charges, just provide a safe ride home.
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