Video: Eight adolescents in a Nissan Sentra plunge 200' into an L.A. ravine, survive
Eight kids out for a Mulholland drive are lucky to be alive today, after the Nissan Sentra they were traveling in rolled 250' down a cliff at 2:20am on Friday in Los Angeles, California. You read that correctly, eight teens-two of which had stuffed themselves in the trunk.
As the story goes, driver Deydi Valle, 19, somehow managed to clip a telephone pole while going 'round a curve, sending the overtaxed Nissan tumbling into a ravine. It may have rolled as many as 20 times en route to its resting place. The group included a 12-year old boy, three 14-year old males, a 15-year-old female, and a 16-year old boy and girl. Amazingly, all of them are alive, and two of them were even able to scramble back to the road.
Word about injuries stemming from the crash appears to be a bit unclear, as the text of L.A. station KNBC's writeup indicates serious injuries including a broken back and a collapsed lung for one victim, and a skull fracture for another. But the follow-up video of the station's news broadcast indicates that none were seriously hurt. Also curious is the statement by one firefighter that the six teens in the passenger compartment were all wearing their seatbelts. Last we checked, Sentras of that vintage only have five belts, although it's possible two of the victims somehow shared a belt.
The driver was tested for alcohol and passed, and apparently there's no sign of drinking among the teens. That said, charges could still be forthcoming.
So... just what were eight mostly under-aged kids doing out at 2am in the heavily burdened compact? Apparently they were coming home from a family party.
[Source: KNBC Channel 4]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bernie 9:27AM (5/27/2006)
Hey, that's earns a 5-star crash rating from me.
The kids get half a star for intelligence, though, and somebody's parents should be arrested for letting that car drive away.
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Ryan 11:10AM (5/27/2006)
"So... just what were eight mostly under-aged kids doing out at 2am in the heavily burdened subcompact?"
If this is a subcompact, what are the Versa Yaris, Fit and Aveo considered?!
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John 12:30PM (5/27/2006)
I miss the good ol' days when the driver that was involved in stunts like this wasn't tested for alcohol; probably because he'd be dead.
I agree with #1 - this oughta be turned into a Nissan ad for 2007.
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James 1:07PM (5/27/2006)
like the new VW ads?
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Marshall Loveday 1:26PM (5/27/2006)
Teenage drivers tend to 'learn by experience', rather than LISTENING when their parents give them driving guidance. (although this one is more probably a case of "it's 2:00AM. Do you know where your kids are? - No.") Just yesterday, my 18yr old dtr was in her 2nd accident. Wasn't taking proper caution. Doesn't seen to consider all my advice important enough to listen to. As to the Sentra incident, our experience would tell us that 8 young kids sardined into a 5-passg auto on Mullholland Drive is an accident waiting to happen. They don't HAVE that experience.
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That One Person 1:38PM (5/27/2006)
200 feet? Thats pretty insane. And then you get someone who taps a pole at 30 mph and dies...this world is messed up.
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CrazyJoe 12:17AM (5/28/2006)
I know....I know... These kids are crash test DUMMIES. for the new book DRIVING FOR DUMMIES...#1 Best Seller
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Howard Kerr 8:00AM (5/28/2006)
Hell, 8 kids riding in a Sentra going ANYWHERE is an accident waiting to happen. Those 2 kids in the trunk must be quite limber.
By my biggest question...how could a Sentra, so obviously overloaded, even get moving? Man, the weight shift when this driver turned a corner should have flipped the poor car.
Finally, what do you want to bet, the 12 year old was the driver?
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apollo322 10:18AM (5/28/2006)
Who in their right minds lets one 16-18 yr old drive 7 kids home from a family party at 2 am?
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matt 12:19PM (5/28/2006)
Natural selection is ineffective. It's too bad really.
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Jason 10:37AM (5/29/2006)
Does Consumer Reports test this type of crash? I want to know how a Ford Fusion fares when stuffed with 8 teens and rolled down a cliff.
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Deydi the driver 11:44PM (6/08/2006)
dear people who commented on my crash,
first of all, its not your business. second of all, i wouldn't be commenting badly on this crash, i would be feeling horrible about it. you guys don't know the real story. all the news media is wrong and stupid like you guys write this stuff. my name is deydi and i was the driver in this crash and i am 19 not 16 and there was no 12 year old in the car. Chris Paukert is a
slimy douche bag that should mind his own buisness. And matt...dont think ive forgot about you. Natural selection? if i ever see you, im going to have to naturally select my foot out of your ass. In conclusion, i am doing fine and so are the other passengers who experienced this horiffic event. F*#@ you all who think this is a joke.
sincerly,
deydi the driver
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deydi sympathizer 7:36PM (6/22/2006)
You are all horrible!!! How dare you question or make fun of ANYONE who is concerned enough about the health and safety of their family and friends to let them ride in the safety of the trunk of a 2500 pound vehicle. I mean, it's not like they were next to the gas tank or anything! (they still put them in the front with the engine, right?) Are you all so callous as to make fun of them? I'm sure mommy and daddy were worried sick back at the estate while drinking their martinis. Not worrried enough to drive an extra vehicle for the children, but really worried none the less!
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