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Cory Camacho, 17 -- Car Accident

Published Tuesday, April 11, 2006 by Admin | E-mail this post

[3/19/05]

Sixteen-year-old Taunie Snyder of Roseville was in a mall Saturday night to buy shoes when she ran into two teenage friends and they all took a ride in her 1991 Honda Accord.

About 20 minutes later, Snyder's speeding car went out of control on Walerga Road west of Roseville and smashed into an oak tree, killing her and front-seat passenger Cory Camacho, 17, of Citrus Heights, the California Highway Patrol said.

The third occupant, Robert Hilario, 14, of Carmichael, suffered a head injury, a fractured femur and a dislocated hip, the CHP reported.

Snyder, as a teenager with less than six months of driving experience, was not supposed to be transporting other teens in the car, the CHP said.

CHP Officer Kelly Baraga said it's a situation that her agency sees too often.

"When we get these horrible collisions - one after the other - the common denominator is that the inexperience of the driver and the high speed play a role," Baraga said.

"This was the forethought when the state put together the restrictions on the graduating license for teenage drivers. For six months, we don't want them driving a vehicle with anyone under the age of 20 in it."

The law for a provisional license, which took effect in 1998, allows a newly licensed driver to transport passengers under 20 only if the driver's parent or guardian or a licensed driver 25 or older is in the car to supervise.

A new licensee, with some exceptions, also is not permitted to drive between midnight and 5 a.m. during the first 12 months unless accompanied by the adults.

Baraga said inexperienced drivers may not be ready to deal with distractions while operating a vehicle.

"We don't want to put any more people at risk in a vehicle in these situations," she said.

The accident involving Snyder was one of three that occurred on Placer County roads since Thursday, resulting in three deaths and three injuries, Baraga said.

Each was caused by a teenage driver who was speeding, she said.

"Teenage drivers tend to push themselves more than an adult driver would," Baraga said. "They don't seem to realize how powerful a vehicle can be and what a dangerous tool it is."

The first accident, at 6:20 a.m. Thursday, resulted in the death of 68-year-old Donald Hartwick of Granite Bay.

Hartwick was northbound in a Subaru Legacy at about 50 mph when a southbound pickup truck went into oncoming traffic and struck his vehicle broadside, the CHP said.

Baraga said a third vehicle - driven by Krystle Laydon, 19, of Wheatland - had rear-ended the pickup truck, sending it into the oncoming lane.

Hartwick died of his injuries Monday in a Sacramento hospital, Baraga said. His wife, Hester Hartwick, 68, and daughter, Diana Hartwick, 45, suffered moderate injuries.

Laydon and the driver of the pickup, Elias Frutos, 38, of Wheatland, were uninjured, she said.

Baraga said no charges have been filed and the investigation was continuing.

In Saturday's 9:20 p.m. accident involving Snyder, the girl was southbound on Walerga Road north of PFE Road and was traveling faster than the posted speed limit of 50 mph, Baraga said.

For unknown reasons, Snyder lost control and the Accord left the road, going up a grassy embankment, striking several thick fence posts and then smashing sideways into the oak tree.

Snyder, who would have turned 17 on Thursday, died at the scene, along with Camacho. Hilario was airlifted to Sutter Roseville Medical Center and was transferred to UC Davis Medical Center, where he was listed in fair condition Monday.

Baraga said all three teenagers were wearing seat belts.

On Sunday at 4 p.m., the CHP responded to a head-on crash involving two 19-year-old drivers on Swetzer Road in Loomis, Baraga said.

Ryan Cline of Loomis was southbound at "a high rate of speed" on the wet road when he approached a curve at English Colony Way and lost control, the officer said.

His car went into the opposite lane and collided with a vehicle driven by Carlee Mason of Rocklin, Baraga said.

Cline suffered a broken jaw, facial lacerations and abrasions, she said, while Mason sustained a fractured lower leg and a hip injury.

Each was taken to Sutter Roseville Medical Center by ambulance. Cline was listed in serious condition Monday, while Mason's condition was listed as fair.

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