Child driver runs stop sign in Tulare County, California; 3 dead

[celeb_2006]

Child driver runs stop sign in Tulare Co; 3 dead

Investigators are trying to determine why an 11-year-old boy was behind the wheel when his car ran a stop sign in Tulare County and crashed into another vehicle, leaving him and two others dead.
The collision killed Jose Manuel Silva Covarrubias, his mother Maria Silva and his 6-year-old sister Elizabeth Silva Covarrabias.
California Highway Patrol investigators have not yet been able to interview the car's lone survivor to determine why the boy was driving Tuesday night. Family friend Froylon Gonzalez remains in critical condition.
CHP officials say neither the mother nor daughter was wearing a seat belt.
Investigators say Jose was driving the 1993 Honda when he ran a stop sign and was hit broadside. The driver of that vehicle sustained minor injuries.

[twitchy2.0]

An early Darwin Award for 2010.

[Moongirl]

This happened about 30 minutes away from the town where I live. In Mexico, it's pretty common for kids in small towns to drive (most of my brothers were all driving by 13), and many women don't learn to drive, so they have to depend on others for rides. Very sad, though :

Three die in vehicle collision near Porterville, including 11-year-old driver


A stuffed bunny and a candle sit near the site of a crash that killed an 11-year-old boy, his 6-year-old sister and their mother. (STEVE R. FUJIMOTO)


Jose Manuel Silva Covarrubias, 11, and his sister, Elizabeth Silva Covarrubias, 6, were killed Tuesday night in crash near Porterville. Their mother, Maria Silva, also was killed in the crash.

Three Woodville residents, including an 11-year-old driver and his 6-year-old sister, are dead after a crash near Porterville about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The 11-year-old driver, Jose Manuel Silva Covarrubias, who was traveling east on Avenue 168 in a 1993 Honda, failed to stop at an intersection and was hit by a 1999 Ford traveling south on Road 152.

Jose, his 6-year-old sister, Elizabeth Silva Covarrabias, and his mother, Maria Silva, were killed. Maria Silva and her daughter were ejected from the Honda and found in a nearby walnut orchard.

Another passenger, 34-year-old Froylon Gonzalez, was airlifted to Fresno's Community Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. He was in critical condition as of Wednesday afternoon.

California Highway Patrol's Stefanie Buck said the collision is being investigated.

The driver of the Ford, Charles Seguin of Porterville, was treated at the scene and released.

<font color= "Red"><b>Photo added:</b></font> Three die in vehicle collision near Porterville, including 11-year-old driver | visaliatimesdelta.com | Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register

[sputnik]

An early Darwin Award for 2010.

this.

[McJag]

this.

Yep.

[greysfang]

[BBDSP]

Hey, Moongirl, where do you live?

My father was from Porterville and I used to have a buttload of relatives in that area. Just curious.

[rollo]

Um, can I make a feminist point about women learning to drive?

[twitchy2.0]

And I'll make a safety point about people wearing their fucking seatbelts.

[Moongirl]

Hey, Moongirl, where do you live?

My father was from Porterville and I used to have a buttload of relatives in that area. Just curious.

I just PM'ed you...

[msdeb]

Hey, Moongirl, where do you live?

My father was from Porterville and I used to have a buttload of relatives in that area. Just curious.

my moms family moved west to Stevinson and Patterson. My brother is in Modesto, and i have aunts and cousins all over the place up there (Turlock, Gustine, Hilmar lol). We used to spend summers up there.

[Lenny]

Maybe the mother was too drunk to drive.

[Moongirl]

Aunt: Woodville boy was learning to drive when car crashed
BY JENNA CHANDLER AND MIGUEL BAEZ
2010-01-15 11:30:49

Family members say driving lessons led to the car accident that killed two kids and a mother in Woodville earlier this week.

A family friend was apparently teaching 11-year-old Jose Silva Covarrubias how to drive when he ran a stop sign at Avenue 168 and Road 152 and collided with a truck. The impact fatally ejected his younger sister Elizabeth, 7, and his mom Maria Covarrubias Silva, 30, into a nearby walnut grove. Jose was extricated from the Honda by firefighters and subsequently pronounced dead.

The friend, 34-year-old Froylong Gonzalez, remains in critical condition at Fresno Regional Community Regional Medical Center.

“It’s a real shock ... it feels like a dream, but we woke up and it’s real,” sister-in-law Maria Silva said.
It was not the first time Jose was behind the wheel, she added, saying she had seen her nephew drive at least once before.

“It’s illegal for anyone without a license to drive a vehicle,” California Highway Patrol Officer Stefanie Buck said.

The CHP is looking into what happened Tuesday night, but has uncovered few details as Gonzalez is unable to speak. Neither Elizabeth or her mother were wearing a seatbelt, according to Buck. “We’re hoping it’s going to be soon,” she said.

The family was on their way back from soccer practice in Tulare, where both the kids played Liga Soccer Infantil del Condado de Tulare.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Juan González, president of the league, said. “I saw them right after practice because one of my sons plays in the same team and I was there at practice. They left around 10 minutes before 7 p.m. and then later they called me with the bad news.”

Both kids played for a team named Mexico. José played in the category 1998-1999 and Elizabeth in the category 2003-2005.

“Elizabeth was a good player but I would not see her that much because she was playing in a different category,” coach Edgar Urias said. “Jose was a quiet kid, he was very respectful and he would listen to the coach all the time. He would put a lot of effort into every game. That day [Tuesday] he was energetic during practice, he was happy.”

Unlike the childrens’ aunt, however, he never saw Jose drive, he said.

“His mom would take the kids everywhere. She would drive the three of them to practice every time,” Urias said.
Elizabeth and Jose have a brother, Jesse, who is now in Merced with his godparents.

The soccer league is hosting a tournament Jan. 23 to raise money for the family.

“Everybody in the league is sad for what happened but they have been really supportive. As soon as I called the representatives of each team to invite them to participate in the tournament, they immediately confirmed. Some of them said that even if they can’t make it to the tournament they will pitch in the $100,” González said.

The tournament is open to any team that wants to participate, donations are $100. Interested teams can contact González at 331-0258.

There will also be a car wash today in Woodville.

The family has set up an account for donations at Bank of the Sierra: 0122801380.

Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.

© Copyright 2010 Freedom Communications. All Rights Reserved.

My understanding is that the kids' dad is in Mexico, and the other adult passenger may have been the step-dad. There is also an older son, about 13, who was not with them, and is now living with his godparents...

[holly]

^ he doesn't need to learn to drive at 11. And he sure as heck doesn't need to learn how to drive with passengers in the vehicle (aside from the person who would be teaching him).