Questions Unanswered.

    

     We now know more about the terrible accident that killed Rod and Paula Bramblett in Auburn last month. The primary new info is the 16 year old driving the Jeep that struck the Brambletts SUV from behind says he fell asleep at the wheel.

     But there's a lot of information missing:

•      Were the Brambletts using their seat belts? Was the unnamed teenager wearing his?
•      Within hours, Lee County Coroner Bill Harris was quoted as saying alcohol was not a factor. How did he determine that so quickly?

•      Why has the name of the 16 year old not been released? The Opelika-Auburn News reports he is a local High School student, but his name was redacted from the police report released yesterday. It also reports the results of the investigation, including toxicology when those results are known, will be presented to the District Attorney's office for consideration.

From the Alabama Department of Public Health:

• In 2016, there were 2,288 motor vehicle traffic fatalities in crashes that involved passenger vehicle teen drivers aged 15 to 18 years old.
• In 2016, there were 2,082 teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes.
• In 2016, 58% of all passenger fatalities of 15- to 18-year-old passenger vehicle drivers were unrestrained.
• In 2016, speeding was a factor in 31% of the teen drivers involved in fatal crashes.
• In 2016, almost 20% of the teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were drinking.
• In 2016, 10% of fatal crashes involved a teen driver distracted at the time of the crash.