13-Year Old Driver Loses Control of Car

Urbana, MOA 28-year old Urbana resident, Tracy L. Hill, was charged with three counts of a Class A misdemeanour for endangering the welfare of a child, resulting from a Missouri car accident that happened on April 24.

Ms. Hill had reportedly allowed a 13-year old child to drive a vehicle, which the child subsequently wrecked while driving on Route D, nearly a mile east of Urbana.

According to State Trooper Jeffrey L. Gertson, the accident occurred as the adult passenger was allowing the teenage girl to operate the 1997 Mazda. The driver lost control, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report.

Ms. Hill and one of the small children suffered serious injuries. The teenage girl who was driving and another smaller child were also injured, moderately. According to reports by the highway patrol none of the occupants of the car were wearing their seat belts.

The investigation into the accident determined that the car the 13-year-old girl was operating was owned by Ms. Hill. The State Trooper, Gertson, said the 13-year-old told him she was driving the car and Hill was in the front passenger's seat teaching her to drive. She also told the officer that she tried to turn the corner but the roads were slick. So the car skidded off the right side of the road and struck a tree.