Car Accident Story

 

      A 13-year-old driver collided with and injured an elderly couple this afternoon at the intersection of
First Street and Slaughter Lane. The accident involved the first driver, Roger Clementine, and the couple, John and Melba Jacob Jingleheimer-Smith.
 
   Only John Jacob Jingleheimer-Smith, 91, was treated with significant injuries. He is in critical condition as of press time this evening. Roger Clementine was treated for minor face lacerations and John's wife Melba, 67, had a bloody nose and both were immediately discharged.

   Roger was driving west at 60 miles per hour in the far eastbound lane of Slaughter when it collided with the backside of the Smiths' car, which was driving at 10 miles per hour. "There was a turn before he hit us, so there was no way we could have seen him coming," said Melba.

  Melba called 911 at the time of the accident at 4:45 PM.  The police and paramedics arrived at 4:55 through traffic that had accumulated at the scene. All three were immediately transported to  University Medical Center Brackenridge via ambulance. "I couldn't have driven, our car was completely totaled, and I wanted to see if John would be okay," explained Melba.

  Jacob Jingleheimer-Smith was driving while his wife sat in the passenger seat of their 1989 Yugo Firebelcher. "He used his arm to shield me from most of it, and he was in the wrong place at the wrong time," explained Melba, "I just hope there's nothing too serious."

  Roger Clementine drove a 1948 Studebaker, which sustained a crumpled fender. The Smiths' car was a total loss. "Yeah, it was my uncle's car. It was a piece of junk, really." Clementine said when asked by police at the scene. "Didn't even explode or anything when I crashed it."

 APD arrested Clementine at the scene but he was later discharged at the request of his parents. He has been cited for driving without a license, speeding, and driving in the wrong lane. He has declined to make any other statements besides the previous one at press time.

Police provided a summary of events at the scene, but pointed out that the road was clear on a sunny day. "There's just no way this should have happened," said police chief Stephen Jackson. "We're looking into a formal investigation with Roger's family, but the Smiths have decided not to press charges."

All three involved are from Austin. "We know the Clementines, they're good people and Roger is a   good boy. We're gonna let this one slide," Melba Smith said, "again."