The car crash that killed a 17-year-old girl on I-95 on Sunday is one of a recent string of crashes in the Washington area that involved young people.
Since the end of August, 16 people ages 15 to 22 have died in car accidents in the D.C. area.
Laura Lynam, 17, died Sunday morning when the car she was riding in rolled over several times. The driver had tried to change lanes and swerved to avoid another vehicle.
Lynam was a student at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria and a member of the crew team. On Sunday, she was on her way to a rowing competition as part of the Old Dominion Boat Club team.
The six other people in the car were treated for minor injuries and released that day. All were under the age of 18.
Virginia has a law stating that drivers younger than 18 can only have one passenger in the car who isn't a family member during the first year they have their license. After that year, until turning 18, they can have up to three passengers.
It is possible that the driver in this accident could face charges for violating this law, but that information will not be released because the driver is a minor.
This crash occurred not even a week after a 15-year-old boy, a football player for DuVal High School, was killed in Prince George's County.
Three young people died in Prince William County earlier this month after the driver crashed into a utility pole. Police estimated that the car was going 75 mph in a 40 mph area.
"They could've had seat belts [on]. They could've had everything," Sgt. Dennis Mangan, a Prince William County police spokesman, told The Washington Post. "This crash was so horrific there was no chance of survival."
Over Labor Day weekend, 14 people died in driving accidents in Virginia. Reckless driving was the cause of nine of the 13 crashes and alcohol was a factor in four, said the Virginia State Police.
"Driver inattention is probably the main factor with young drivers," said Sgt. Wallace Bouldin, a spokesman for the Virginia State Police. He advised following the speed limit and wearing seatbelts and said that young people "should also always remember that it could happen to them."
Some AU students said they were upset, but not surprised by the recent crashes.
"If it wasn't for a lack of public transportation I would say that the driving age should be raised," said senior Majed Sayess. "Yes, [young people] are careless, but there's nothing [you] can do about it."
Other students agreed.
"Some people get behind the wheel and think it's a video game," said Tom Hyre, a senior in the School of Public Affairs. "Inexperience is the root of poor driving"
