The driver involved in a fatal car accident in Beaverton has been identified. According to police, Xavier Denzel Rodriguez was driving the Nissan Altima on April 27, 2022 when he ran a red light and crashed into a patrol vehicle near Murray Boulevard and Southwest Tualatin Valley Highway.
The accident happened a little after midnight and ended up killing two students riding in the Nissan. Mr. Rodriguez and two additional passengers were also critically injured, as was the deputy who was struck.
The teens were all students at Southridge High. No one knows why Rodriguez ran the red light or whether he had been driving dangerously the rest of the night.
Sadly, this is yet another fatal accident involving a teenage driver. Oregon takes steps to protect the public with its comprehensive graduated driver’s license scheme. For example, for the first six months of having a license, a driver cannot transport a non-relative younger than 20. In the next six months, teen drivers cannot transport more than three passengers who are non-relatives and younger than 20. New drivers are also prohibited from driving between midnight and 5:00 am, with only limited exceptions.
Unfortunately, Mr. Rodriguez was 18 and therefore eligible to drive without restrictions. That’s why he had four teens in the car with him when he ran a red light a little after midnight in April.
Are Teens More Dangerous Drivers?
Teenagers themselves usually bristle at the graduated license restrictions. However, these restrictions are well supported by research which shows teens get into more accidents than even drivers a little bit older. According to the Centers for Disease Control:
- Teens aged 16-19 were the most at risk of getting into car crashes.
- Teens are more than three times as likely as any other age group to get into a crash, when miles driven are considered.
- Males aged 16-19 are far more at risk than females the same age—at least twice as high.
- The younger the teen, the greater the risk of an accident. Newly licensed 16-year-olds are more at risk of a collision than even 18- or 19-year-olds.
- Accident risk increases for teens at night. In fact, those aged 16-19 are more than three times as likely to be involved in fatal car crashes at night than drivers in the 30-59 age range.
These statistics are overwhelming. Parents would do well to ensure that their teens strictly follow the graduated license requirements. The presence of other teens in the car probably creates an incentive to “show off” to their peers, thus increasing the risk of a crash.
Were You Hit by a Teen Driver in Beaverton?
Johnston Law Firm P.C. can jump in and seek compensation on your behalf for any accident—including those caused by young motorists. Our firm is committed to driver safety for all, including teens behind the wheel. One way we make the roads safer is to ensure that injured victims hold the people who hurt them accountable with a personal injury lawsuit.
To get started, please contact us today by calling (503) 546-3167. Our consultations are free and confidential.