Passaic County Accident Kills Youth; Seat Belt Not Worn

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A 12-year-old boy from Poughkeepsie lost his life last Friday evening in a car accident in Wanaque, as the car his mother was driving lost control at a curve in the road, hit a center concrete barrier and flipped over.

State Police Detective Brian Polite said that Brian Medina, who was a left rear passenger in the Subaru car driven by Kim Medina that overturned, was not wearing a seat belt. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kim Medina and two other passengers in the car, both children, were taken to a local hospital, where they were listed with moderate injuries.

No tickets have been issued in the case, and the crash investigation is ongoing. The weather was clear at the time of the accident, and police say that the road condition was dry.

Recent New Jersey traffic safety campaigns and public awareness programs have stressed seat belt use. The New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety website states that more than 2,000 unbuckled drivers and front-seat passengers have died in motor vehicle accidents across the state over the past 10 years. Additionally, about 700 unbuckled drivers and front-seat passengers have been thrown out of their vehicles in accidents occurring over the same period.

State law requires that all occupants in a vehicle wear seat belts, regardless of their seating position. The driver of the vehicle is legally responsible for ensuring proper belt use of all passengers who are under 18.

Related Resource: www.nj.com “Accident on Route 287 in Passaic County kills 12-year-old boy” August 21, 2010