Passenger: Fatal S. Seattle crash stemmed from street race
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SEATTLE -- Two teenagers were killed and three others were critically injured in a street race when the car they were in crashed into a pole in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle on Sunday night.
Investigators said the 16-year-old driver lost control on a curve just after 8 p.m. in the 9200 block of 8th Ave. S.
The driver died at the scene, and a 13-year-old girl died shortly after being taken to a hospital. Family members identified the 13-year-old as Lucie Hernandez. The rest of the victims' names have not been released.
The other three passengers were listed in critical or serious condition at Harborview Medical Center, according to police.
Gilbert Camacho, a passenger who suffered two broken arms in the crash, told KOMO News they were on their way home from the mall when they passed another car on the street and organized an impromptu race.
During the race, the car with Camacho inside lost control and crashed into a pole.
Camacho thinks he passed out and believes someone pulled him out of the car... then he walked to his home a few blocks away.
"I don't remember nothing to be honest," he said. "It was a blessing, like God or something, told me to go to the house, I don't know what way I got to the house, I just remember calling my sister's name when I got to the house."
His sister said he looked pretty bad.
"He looked like he was about to pass out," Cici Camacho said.
Police say they haven't determined yet if alcohol was a factor but Gilbert Camacho insisted none of the teens were drinking or high.
Investigators said the 16-year-old driver lost control on a curve just after 8 p.m. in the 9200 block of 8th Ave. S.
The driver died at the scene, and a 13-year-old girl died shortly after being taken to a hospital. Family members identified the 13-year-old as Lucie Hernandez. The rest of the victims' names have not been released.
 Lucie Hernandez |
Gilbert Camacho, a passenger who suffered two broken arms in the crash, told KOMO News they were on their way home from the mall when they passed another car on the street and organized an impromptu race.
During the race, the car with Camacho inside lost control and crashed into a pole.
Camacho thinks he passed out and believes someone pulled him out of the car... then he walked to his home a few blocks away.
"I don't remember nothing to be honest," he said. "It was a blessing, like God or something, told me to go to the house, I don't know what way I got to the house, I just remember calling my sister's name when I got to the house."
His sister said he looked pretty bad.
"He looked like he was about to pass out," Cici Camacho said.
Police say they haven't determined yet if alcohol was a factor but Gilbert Camacho insisted none of the teens were drinking or high.
lo siento muchisimo por estos jovenes ...Â
y a las familias d ellos mis mayoreas condolencias ...Â
mi hijo era amigo a lucie y me acuerdo muy bien la primera vez q la conoci como olvidar su linda caarita ... descansa n paz lucie hernandez nunca te olvidaremosÂ
Come on people, It wasen't only his fault. If the other people riding in the car with him had told him to not do it, I'm pretty sure he wouln't have done it. Yes, he was driving but the other passengers had a mouth to say " Hey luis this is not a good choise lets just go home" but clearly none of them did it so lets not blame just one person. In the end two of them are dead, and none of this will change what happened. Yes, they did a bad choice and there is nothing to do but to learn from this. I hope other teens learned from this like I did. I'm 17 but I can guarantee and i know I will hate street racing from now on and I also KNOW for a fact I hate YOLO (you only live once). Us teens shouldn't take this as lets get drunk and party, we should take it as in lets get a good education and do good things for others. R.I.P. Luis and Lucie we will all miss you guys.
 @Diana Chavez You cannot assume that the other passengers could have had any influence. As the driver he was ultimately in control of the vehicle. Whether they said stop or go only the passengers that are alive can say. The only way it matters what they said is if this little girls family wants to go after the drivers family and any other party. In the mean time he was the driver. He was responsible for his passengers. His mistake cost that girl her life and his own. His responsibility is inescapable. There are reasons that kids his and your age aren't allowed to drive with passengers and not allowed to drive after a certain point of the day. Many of those restrictions come from kids doing this very thing; getting someone killed. Don't try and shift blame or reduce his blame. As the driver all the responsibility is all on you. If you don't want that responsibility then do not drive.
As a parent, it breaks my heart that two young lives were lost. The driver at 16, did not have enough experience or maturity to have passengers, nor is it legal for him to have passengers in the car. I am sure they were a distraction to him, as well as the group probably egged him on to the race. He couldn't back down with his friends in the car. I pray this is a lesson to others and we do not lose any more promising, precious young lives.
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Kids don't realize how quick things can go bad.........
Racing small import cars with a load of passengers is a death wish, this must be the third such tragedy I have read about locally this year. Taking a curve at a high rate of speed says it all, yup an accident waiting to happen.
I just hope young people read this story and learn from it, life is too short to be taking unnecessary risks or doing something stupid like racing with a carload of passengers, these little rice burners were not designed for that and
they will be all over the road if you try racing them fully loaded with people.
R.I.P Lucie<3 You will never be forgotten your in our hearts and prayers<3 The thought of you gone is not right and is hard to swallow.
I made a lot of poor choices between my middle school years up to my high school years. I remember joy riding in my brothers car at age 15-16 with my two best friends late at night (behind my family's back). No license, little experience.. Almost got into a car crash as well. I didn't think of those I could've put in danger. Thank goodness nothing bad happened and no one got hurt. I understand what this young man was going through. He wanted to show off and show everyone a good time. From my perspective at 16, I just wanted to  feel the rush, the excitement, and the adrenaline. I wanted to show my friends that I was a "bada**" (pathetic right?).  I wasn't even thinking about the consequences. Risking so much just for a moment of fun. I'm now 18 and I can be a reckless driver every now and then..But ever since I heard this story, I'm going to be far more careful. It has been raining a lot and it may even snow soon so I hope everyone stays safe. Every time you get in a vehicle your life is at risk. I wish this tragedy was prevented.. RIP to those who passed and I hope the injured recover physically and emotionally.
Rest In Peace <3
Lucie And Luis <3
Gone But never Forgotten
R.I.P primo. I wish I could have seen u one more time. You will be miss
I have to blame the parents as much as I blame the driver.I really hope this opens the eyes for alot of Mom's and Dad's.Know the rules for 1st time drivers.Your kid does not need a fast car.Let them EARN a car.They need to show responsibility,being mature,maintains a good GPA and whatever else you want to add.Make them sign a contract understanding what's EXPECTED of them.They break the contract,the car goes bye-bye.
 @2ndstartothenorth It's not the parents fault. We all did stupid things as kids.
going to keep this for my son when he is ready to drive... need for speed, and boom ... and game over.
kids, the posted speed limits are there for a reason. and it's not for a decoration.
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do you wanna race? do it in the race track or online video game.
@CIAassassin not trting to be mean or anything... jus a comment.
@CIAassassin ur dumb guy. 2 people died tht were hella close to me and tht the only thing u can say?!!! learn how to be respectful and then u will relize what its like! i bet if it waz one of ur family members u wouldent saying anything like that. so jus dont say anything....
@CIAassassin Those signs on the side of the road remind us of the tragedy's of young lives lost on the roads. I would hope one sign is enough to remind kids that traffic accidents happen to anyone. Have respect for the road, the conditions, and that it could take your life as well. How many more blue in loving memory signs on the side of the road will it take?
 @wizard They remind *US*, the adults. They don't remind the kids who think it won't happen to them. How many more will it take? No one knows. Obviously the potential for death is not a deterrent.
My prayers go out to their family's and friends. May they rest in Peace!!!
Geez the people on here are hella rude. No sympathy at all. We understand it wasnt that great of a choice, actually it WAS a horrible choice, but at our age we dont necessarily think about all of the consequences. People NEED to understand that and stop acting like they were saints when they were teens. Its really ignorant and immature to talk crap about kids who just died. & if your gonna belittle the teens that died, then you have some growing up to do yourself.
Well, no sympathy for the driver anyway....
@shantibanti1Â Â You have the right NOT to read these comments if they offend you.Â
Maybe not drunk, maybe not high, but definitely not Smart. Street Racing, wet roads, minimal driving experience, and with 4 passengers! Just plain stupid!
I knew it! I knew this accident didn't occur due to clumsiness. Rather, it happened due to overconfindence and recklessness! Thus, they receive no pity from me. Ladies, if your friend starts driving dangerously, racing another car, or engages in roadrage to show off some sort of manliness, tell him to stop the car and get the eff out! You'll thank me someday.Â
 @Alki_Ninja Get out of the car when it's still moving? That's sure is a smart move.Â
@Sanctuary   Read my comment again. You missed a part. :p
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 @jedifarfy      Self righteousness?   Think again. It's common sense. :p
 @Alki_Ninja Well, I'm glad you have your self righteousness to keep you warm at night.
When I was a teenage driver, my car took 12 seconds to go zero to 60. It was a Chevrolet Chevette. My fathers reasoning was that I did not have enough experience in driving and handling a car. Also, too much power for me to handle at that age.
 @wizard That was the car to have in high school! You'd be like, hey baby, wanna take a ride in my 'vette?
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That thing woulda run circles around my Volvo 140. Ah, the '70s speed machines we enjoyed as teens in the '80s...
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@the unvarnished truth
The cars nickname is Chevy Shove-it.
@the unvarnished truth " I'm still living proof it was a slug of a car. I guess it was a good thing it could not race-I'm still alive even though I tried to race it.
I feel bad for her boyfriend Arturo sorry for your lost
If you want to race go pay the fee and di it at SIR (do not remember the new name). Get it off the streets. I love to rece but, will only do it at an aproved track.
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The last I heard, it was changed from SIR back to Pacific Raceways again. Back to the original name. Been years since I've been out there.
 @bustedupredneck Everyone has raced on the street at one point. The driver was 16, I did a lot of stupid stuff driving when I was 16. I'm sure everyone does.
@SolntsevskayaBratva @Just_Mike @bustedupredneckÂ
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I don't think any teenager should have a car bigger than a 2.0 liter engine until they respect the power under the hood and get used to driving under conditions.
 @wizard  @Just_Mike  @bustedupredneck  @SolntsevskayaBratva Looks like a 2nd gen Integra in the crash photos. 1.8l most likely and 1.7l GS-R very unlikely. Neither is even 2.0l
 @SolntsevskayaBratva  @bustedupredneck It is certainly regrettable that this person will never be able to look back and say "Man, I dont know how I lived through my own stupidity" like so many of us now do. But certainly, this is an unfortunate reinforcement of why we have the laws in place that we do. I never raced..........I was too busy doing other stupid things......I feel bad for the families that have been torn apart by this preventable tragedy.
"Everyone has reaced on the street at one point" Really? I never raced. Sure, I love speed but if I let go it was on my motorcycle on back or desert roads...never on busy public roadways or in competition with someone. There is no excuse being "young and dumb". If you race you are a MORON; kill yourself if you want to, but it's not that simple as this accident has demonstrated.
 @SolntsevskayaBratva  @bustedupredneck No. Not everyone races. Most people know it's a dumbarse idea that can get you or someone else killed.
Racing isn't like it is in video games, humans die in such accidents. What a waste of life. This 13 year old girl and the survivors are the real tragedy. I wonder how many of the passengers were encouraging the race and how many were against it. This young driver, outside of the laws with his (presumed) provisional drivers license killed himself thinking he was "cool" and could race like the big boys. Well, at least he won't be a problem we need to worry about tonight. He should be posthumously charged with manslaughter for the 13 year old and reckless endangerment in the least for the passengers. Will it do any good? No but his actions caused his own death, that of another person and injury to three others. And it should be recorded as such that *he is* responsible for the carnage.
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Oh, and the other cars driver. Go after him/her/them too.
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You want to be a big boy? Fine, put on your big boy pants and take responsibility.
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 @n9078jk4 slower acceleration but also increased weight makes it more difficult (takes longer) to brake. If the car had ABS it would help some but the extra weight of four passengers, say another 500 pound?, has a real effect on braking. And in this weather locking up the brakes is a distinct possibility along with hydroplaning. All things a dumbass 16 year old won't know.
It is not only racing that is getting dangerous. It is also passing on the right and forcing their way in between cars. I can have a football field of room behind me and some drivers demand to get in front on me. I was almost run off the road recently. There was no room on a freeway exit yet a car merged on top of me, God must have saved me as there was less than an inch of room. Let people in or you may even see a gun pointed at you! It is just terrible!!!
dont try to race if your a stupid driver. thats lack of knowing ahead and actually being careful and a profesional. racing is for PROFESSIONALS. not for people who just want to look cool. its sad what happened. prayers go to the family.
Read up kiddies street racing is for the MOVIES not real life.. you want to learn and drive like idiots take it to the track... this kind of stupid crap is getting out of hand and I have no pity for the idiots who get hurt / killed while participating in this. They are a hazard to everyone else around them and if they happen to check out during this stupid activity so be it... here a video that portrays this BS perfectly!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7AoyoOQ81w
...and yes I run at the track because that is where this sort of things belongs.. and it is the only place I can run my car as I like it without traffic  if you cannot afford it perhaps you should be saving your money for something you want to do... when I am on the publics streets I drive as everyone should with common sense and good judgment! | Unfortunately kids these days seem to have a lack of both and they get their friends killed for nothing! There are only two kinds of people the ones that are alive and the ones who are dead!
Nobody Needs To be rude To Ana Santos All she s doing is defending somone who has passed away since some people like to be rude. -__- this situation has caused many people pain here and she is one of them!. so just stop bieng rude be respectful
Carmen, I can't understand what you are writing. Can you translate into English please
@HonkeyCat dont be rude to @Carmen Ramos she jus proving a point!!! the writing is in english! u blind oe something!
 @HonkeyCat sorry if i misspelled some words but my point is some people are bieng very disrepectfull on what the situation is they need to know that this is not about judging but about helping other people feel better on the situation I HOPE you understood now!
@Carmen Ramos This forum has many people that are highly educated. Your writing skills (or lack thereof) take away from the points you are trying to make. This is not texting and you are not on Facebook. Get your English text book out and blow the dust off of it and after you study it, take some time to formulate some rational thought and THEN express it in written format.