Tragic South Memphis Accident Kills Mitchell High Student

By Thomas Greer | March 2, 2014

On Thursday, February 27, three students from Mitchell High School were involved in a single-car accident. The crash claimed the life of Laquisha Lipsey, who was riding in the car as a passenger. Eighteen year old Jashunda Reed, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident, has been charged with reckless driving, failure to yield resulting in injury or death, and driving without a license and insurance.

This fatal accident is a tragic reminder that young drivers and their friends are often involved in car crashes. Motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death among teenagers. Parents, teachers, and others may wonder what they can do to help young drivers drive more safely.

Graduated driver licensing has been shown to help young people learn to drive more safely than the previous method of licensing, where a beginning driver would get a learner’s permit and then be granted a regular driver’s license upon passing the required tests. Graduated licensing programs are designed to reduce the risks that beginning drivers face until they build up their level of experience and develop the skills to drive in more difficult situations.

The State of Tennessee has a graduated driver licensing program for teenagers who are under the age of eighteen. The first step is the learner’s permit, which can be obtained at fifteen years of age. Drivers with a learner’s permit may only drive while accompanied by someone who is twenty one years of age or older. Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seat belt, and the responsible adult must sit in the front seat. Drivers with learner’s permits may not drive between the hours of 10PM and 6AM. The next step is an intermediate restricted driver’s license, which can be obtained by drivers over sixteen years of age who meet certain requirements. Next, a driver may obtain an intermediate unrestricted driver’s license upon turning seventeen years old and meeting other requirements. The final step of the licensing process is the regular class D driver’s license.

Clear rules for when young people may drive can also help them to stay safe. Parents can establish and enforce household rules for driving, and schools can also make policies with regards to vehicle use by their students. The accident which killed Laquisha Lipsey occurred as the students were driving to lunch. The Shelby County Schools have a policy which prohibits students from going off campus during their lunch break. Many schools which have closed lunch policies like the one in Shelby County cite safety as one of the main reasons why they do not allow students to leave campus for lunch. Students have a specific time period within which they must eat their lunch. When students try to leave school at the start of their lunch break, drive somewhere, eat lunch, and then get back to school in time to get to their next class, they rush. When any driver is in a hurry, safety is likely to be compromised.

Unfortunately, some accidents will occur despite the efforts of families and the community to keep young drivers and their passengers safe. Laquisha Lipsey died in an accident involving a driver who did not have a license, and the crash happened at a time when the students were supposed to be on campus, according to school rules.

If you or someone that you love has been injured or killed in an automobile accident, it is important that you speak with an attorney right away. The experienced Memphis car accident lawyers at Bailey & Greer, PLLC will sit down with you to learn about your case, explain your options, and help you decide how to proceed. To learn more, call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case.  At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.

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