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 Tragedy That Will Not Be Forgotten

By: Karly Schichtl

Teenagers rarely witness a life changing tragedy that makes them realize their own mortality.  The students attending my cousin’s high school in Flowermound, TX had the misfortune to lose 2 students in their school district to a car accident. 

            The night started as an underage joy ride among five friends.  Drake, a 14 year old, “borrowed” his father’s Ford Ranger, and took off around one o’clock in the morning.  Drake drove about 25 miles to pick up his girlfriend, her twin sister, and his two best friends.  After picking up his friends, their “joy ride” turned tragic.  Drake, driving 75 mph on a 40 mph road, lost control.  The truck ran off the road, wrapped around a tree, and burst into flames.  Collena, who was the only one in the vehicle wearing a seatbelt, was able to free herself from the car, and call 911.  As she was calling 911 she helped her sister, Hunter, and Joe, who were all unconscious, get out of the burning car.  Unfortunately, Drake’s foot was caught and Collena was unable to free him.  He burned alive while she watched, helplessly listening to his moans.  On the 911 tape, you can hear the explosion of the gas tank, Drake moaning, and Collena repeating over and over “Drake is gone.” 

            Hunter had 3^rd degree burns over 45 to 60 percent of his body and blunt force trauma.  He hung on for ten days before succumbing to his injuries.  Kristina, Collena’s twin sister, was released from the hospital two weeks after the accident.  She returned home with a broken neck, but is expected to make a full recovery.  Joe will spend four and a half weeks in the hospital before being released with unspecified injuries.  Collena has been named a hero.  She has few physical injuries, but will face many years of counseling due to the nightmare she witnessed and her inability to save her boyfriend. 

            Many people in this community, other than the friends and families of these five kids, were affected by this tragedy.  The students from the Flowermound schools are receiving counseling as needed on campus.  It has been hard for everyone in the Flowermound area, but has also served as an eye-opener for so many. 

People always think “that wouldn’t happen to me,” but it happens everyday.  It happens to people who never imagined it would happen to them.  It happens to friends of people who thought that would never happen to them.  It happens.  Everyone, especially teens, need to be aware of these things.  They need to know that it can and will happen to them if they don’t make the right choices.  The kids were not drinking or doing drugs; they were good kids from good families that made a bad choice.  Hopefully their bad choice will result in better choices for future new drivers.  Maybe others will think twice before sneaking out with a vehicle or driving without a license or, something as simple as not wearing a seatbelt.  The five and their families will remain in our thoughts and prayers. 

Skateboard memorials mark the Flower Mound intersection where an unlicensed 14-year-old died after crashing his parents' truck into a tree. Four other teens were transported by helicopter and ambulance to Parkland Memorial Hospital.