Teen Driver Admits Speeding, Gets Probation for Fatal Crash That Killed 2

A Randolph High School student who lost control of his car in July, slamming into a tree and killing two of his backseat passengers was sentenced to four years probation Tuesday.

According to nj.com, the teen driver, who remains unidentified because of his age, admitted he was speeding in his Ford Mustang on the afternoon of July 26 when he lost control of the vehicle. The crash resulted in the deaths of fellow classmates Calvin Verduga and Jack Timmerman.

The car swerved out of control, the teen admitted in court, and he mistakenly hit the accelerator rather than the brake, according to the report.

The driver pleaded guilty to death by auto and assault by auto charges. None of the families whose children were involved objected to the plea deal, the report said.

“This fatal crash was not only prompted by inexperience, but a number of bad choices on the part of the driver, the passengers and the parents,” said Pam Fischer, Leader of NJ Teen Safe Driving Coalition in a statement to Patch. “And that’s what makes this event so tragic -- what happened that day was entirely preventable. The research is clear, newly licensed teens have the highest crash risk of any age group on the road. Add multiple passengers and a high performance vehicle to the mix, along with lack of seat belt use, and it’s a recipe for disaster.

“As a parent, my heart breaks for everyone involved,” Fischer continued. “But clearly this is a wake-up call not only for all parties involved, but every teen and parent in Randolph, Morris County and statewide. I caution parents and teens not to be in such a hurry, to take the risks seriously and to make safety priority number one. Parents get educated about how NJ’s graduated driver license program works to address your teen’s crash risk and leverage it for all it’s worth. It is your program. Set rules, enforce them and stay engaged.”