Alcohol believed to be a factor in single vehicle crash that killed teen passenger

ALBERTA - On Friday, May 22nd, 2009 at approximately 9:45 PM, Wetaskiwin RCMP and local EMS responded to a single vehicle collision seven kilometres north of Wetaskiwin on Secondary Highway 814 and Township Road 472.

Investigation revealed that a female driver of a black, Pontiac Sunfire was traveling southbound on Highway 814 when she lost control, went through a neighbouring fence, collided with a farm animal and hit a tree before coming to a stop.

There were four passengers in the car. One of them, identified as Jennifer Lynn Clements of Beaumont (photo from "In memory of Jennifer Clements" on Facebook), received serious injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 17 year old female driver, also from Beaumont, was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

Friends of Clements say the teens had left a party in Leduc before the crash. The driver is reported to be a close friend of the victim.

"She's the life of the party. She was the best, she always, always had something to say," Amanda Tobin said in Beaumont in an interview with the Edmonto Sun newspaper. In the article she's seen holding a picture of Clements.

"She was never afraid to do anything, that's for sure," Tobin said, wiping away tears.

Two other teen girls, Ashleigh MacPhee and Morgan Ferster, stood next to her, holding their own pictures.

All three were dressed in purple, Clements's favourite colour.

The girls said the teens had left a Leduc party just before the crash.

"It's a big shock ... she didn't make it to her 18th birthday," Ferster said, glancing at a picture of Clements dancing in a purple outfit, surrounded by other young girls in black.

The girls, who had known Clements for most of their lives, said she was "fun in general" and always the life of the party.

Clements and her friends were planning on going camping on her birthday in August, a trip that will never happen.

However, there is one milestone she did reach, one her friends are grateful for.

"We're happy she got to go to graduation. She was so excited for grad," MacPhee said.

Clements hoped to become a flight attendant, she said.

A few kilometres away, Clements's mother was tearful and clutching a bouquet of flowers when she answered the door.

When asked for a comment she said: "Oh my God, not today ... please."

Though police have not said whether speed was a factor, the girls said the car was believed to have been travelling at least 30 km/h above the posted 100 km/h limit.

Brenda McGlarrie, who lives across the road from the tragic crash, wasn't surprised.

"People drive pretty fast on it ... I'd say most people speed on it," she said. "People do crazy things on this hill. It's not a shocker that something happened here."

Alcohol is believed to be a factor and the matter is currently under investigation by the RCMP. The legal drinking age in Alberta is 18.

It's not clear if charges will be laid and the remaining passengers escaped with non-life threatening injuries.

* * *

Why didn't the people (friends) at the party arrange for a ride home for these girls considering the driver wasn't supposedly fit to drive. Even if they couldn't tell, why take the chance anyway? There's no such thing as a "little but drunk". You're either sober or not.

There's a saying that's been around for over 20 years - "friends don't let friends drive drunk". And especially with this new generation of teens, what happened to designating a driver? Or calling a parent? We all know teens will drink but driving while impaired is stupid, deadly and irresponsible. There was no room for anyone to sleep over?

People die when others are this irresponsible - this includes the person or persons who served alcohol at the party. It's the host's reponsibility to make sure everyone gets home safe, regardless of age.

Don't say no one didn't know this.

If it's proven that the driver is this crash was criminally impaired when the crash happened, Jennifer's death is not a mistake or an accident. It was a crime.