Star Florida prep b-ball recruit dies in car crash........

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Terrible stuff. He was likely to go to Mizzou as he wanted to play with his good friend Shaq Johnson and MU was the only one to offer them both a scholie. Just hate to see something like this happen.......

Top Eastside basketball player dies in crash

By LISE FISHER and JOHN PATTON
Sun staff writers
May 19. 2007 11:39AM


Dante Anderson, the state of Florida's consensus No. 1 boys basketball prospect of the Class of 2008, was one of two Gainesville students killed early Saturday morning in an automobile accident on SW 13th Street.

As a junior at Eastside High, Anderson was one of The Sun's players of the year and was first-team all-state in Class 5A. He also was the MVP of the FHSAA final four in 2006.

Anderson and Curtis Hampton Jr., both 16, died in a single-vehicle crash in the 2300 block of SW 13th Street, said police spokesman Lt. Keith Kameg. The crash occurred shortly before 3 a.m.

Anderson had been driving a 2001 white Ford Crown Victoria, which was headed south on 13th Street, witnesses told police.

An unknown vehicle passed the Ford, which then tried to go around the other vehicle by driving into the median, Kameg said. Anderson lost control of the car as it entered the median and crashed into a large palm tree.

The impact of the crash caused the tree to fall onto the vehicle, trapping Anderson, Kameg said.

Anderson and Hampton, the car's right rear passenger, died at the scene, police reported. Hampton was a student at the Horizon Center, school officials confirmed.

Two others riding in the car were injured and remained hospitalized Saturday, Kameg said.

Reginald James, 15, a student at Lincoln Middle School, was in fair condition at Shands at the University of Florida, according to police. Octavious Miller, 19, was listed in serious condition. Officials could not confirm what school Miller attended.

Initial reports from Anderson's friends had said three people died in the crash.

Police estimated the car was traveling at about 60 mph on the road, which has a 45-mph speed limit.

Kameg said Miller could not speak to officers and James had told police he could not remember events prior or immediately after the accident.

Friends and an initial report from police said the four were returning home from a concert.

Skid marks were visible in the median near the palm tree. Glass fragments could be seen around the base of the tree.

Anderson, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, averaged 25 points and seven rebounds a game as a junior. Rivals listed Anderson as the nation's 61st-rated prospect overall, and Scout ranked him 58th.

[Ksyrup]

Terrible stuff. But once again, you have to ask...what in the hell is a 16 year old doing out at 3am? Inexcusable.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Terrible stuff. But once again, you have to ask...what in the hell is a 16 year old doing out at 3am? Inexcusable.

I have no doubt that his parents will rethink that same thing for the rest of their life. What a terrible burden to carry. My baby is only 3 months old. I'm putting all of these things in my mental file cabinet hoping that I don't make a crucial parenting mistake that I may regret. By the same token, there's only so much you can do as a parent to keep them safe. Sometimes, stupid stuff just happens.

[Ksyrup]

I agree. But my rule of thumb is you set rules and take stands to limit situations where things can happen. And one of my first rules is (or will be, when my kids get that age)...there will be a curfew. How many stories do we read every week about accidents or shootings or what have you that happen after midnight? That's one of those things that seems to greatly increase the odds of something happening. Like just having a gun in the house. I don't care how careful you are, the chances are nil of someone getting accidentally shot with your gun if you don't have one in the house. I've got a mental list of things like that.

Having a curfew isn't going to keep my kids from getting hurt in a car accident. But it will keep the odds more in their favor. I don't know when it became OK for kids to stay out all night.That was the mark of an irresponsible parent back when I was a kid, and I'm not sure I understand why it's any different these days.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I agree. But my rule of thumb is you set rules and take stands to limit situations where things can happen. And one of my first rules is (or will be, when my kids get that age)...there will be a curfew. How many stories do we read every week about accidents or shootings or what have you that happen after midnight? That's one of those things that seems to greatly increase the odds of something happening. Like just having a gun in the house. I don't care how careful you are, the chances are nil of someone getting accidentally shot with your gun if you don't have one in the house. I've got a mental list of things like that.


Having a curfew isn't going to keep my kids from getting hurt in a car accident. But it will keep the odds more in their favor. I don't know when it became OK for kids to stay out all night.That was the mark of an irresponsible parent back when I was a kid, and I'm not sure I understand why it's any different these days.

If you want to really know go to http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/ ...This is a place I did a summer internship at for a couple of years.. they track all of the fatal car accidents in the nation... If you pull up stats it is very compelling as to when the majority of fatal accidents happen - not surprisingly they coincide with when there is alcohol involved for the most part.. so yeah.. the 11:00 PM or so on is by far the deadliest time to be on the road.

[Ksyrup]

Makes sense to me.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by wade moore

If you want to really know go to http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/ ...This is a place I did a summer internship at for a couple of years.. they track all of the fatal car accidents in the nation... If you pull up stats it is very compelling as to when the majority of fatal accidents happen - not surprisingly they coincide with when there is alcohol involved for the most part.. so yeah.. the 11:00 PM or so on is by far the deadliest time to be on the road.

Good link. Thanks.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Terrible stuff. But once again, you have to ask...what in the hell is a 16 year old doing out at 3am? Inexcusable.

Those were my first thoughts also....A terrible tragedy, that could have been prevented, this is why I have always strictly enforced a curfew. I feel horrible for the families of these Kids, who undoubtedly will question themselves for a long time.

[Cringer]

A car passed him, so he punched it and started to drive in what is not a driving lane, and doing it at 60 mph.

Oh well, sounds like an asshole and an idiot. No loss in my world.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Cringer

A car passed him, so he punched it and started to drive in what is not a driving lane, and doing it at 60 mph.

Oh well, sounds like an asshole and an idiot. No loss in my world.

No, he's a 16 year old kid who made a stupid decision as have many other 16 year old kids. Unfortunately, this one cost him his life along with his friends.

[Cringer]

Ha. Because he is a 16 year old basketball star he couldn't possibly be an ass or an idiot? Just a simple, one time mistake....

His driving, which caused his own death, couldn't possibly tell me anything about the kid I guess.

[Young Drachma]

Sad for his family.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I agree. But my rule of thumb is you set rules and take stands to limit situations where things can happen. And one of my first rules is (or will be, when my kids get that age)...there will be a curfew. How many stories do we read every week about accidents or shootings or what have you that happen after midnight? That's one of those things that seems to greatly increase the odds of something happening. Like just having a gun in the house. I don't care how careful you are, the chances are nil of someone getting accidentally shot with your gun if you don't have one in the house. I've got a mental list of things like that.

Having a curfew isn't going to keep my kids from getting hurt in a car accident. But it will keep the odds more in their favor. I don't know when it became OK for kids to stay out all night.That was the mark of an irresponsible parent back when I was a kid, and I'm not sure I understand why it's any different these days.

I completely agree. I've got my own similar list for when we have kids.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by Cringer

Ha. Because he is a 16 year old basketball star he couldn't possibly be an ass or an idiot? Just a simple, one time mistake....

His driving, which caused his own death, couldn't possibly tell me anything about the kid I guess.

It's a horrific loss. I don't give a damn if he's a basketball player or a future worker at Burger King.

A 16 year old kid made a mistake and died because of it. Most of us has made a dumb decision in our lives that could have cost us dearly. (maybe it's drinking and driving, getting in a car with a friend who is impaired, going to fast for the road conditions, etc.) Thankfully, it didn't cost us our lives.

I agree with Ksyrup about the family making a mistake by not setting a curfew and I also have a mental list of things I'll do when I become a parent. But to make a judgment about this 16 year old because he made a poor decision is pathetic IMHO.

YMMV.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by TroyF

It's a horrific loss. I don't give a damn if he's a basketball player or a future worker at Burger King.

A 16 year old kid made a mistake and died because of it. Most of us has made a dumb decision in our lives that could have cost us dearly. (maybe it's drinking and driving, getting in a car with a friend who is impaired, going to fast for the road conditions, etc.) Thankfully, it didn't cost us our lives.

I agree with Ksyrup about the family making a mistake by not setting a curfew and I also have a mental list of things I'll do when I become a parent. But to make a judgment about this 16 year old because he made a poor decision is pathetic IMHO.

YMMV.

Agreed. It was a press-worthy event because of the basketball aspect, but it could have been any 16 year old kid.

There was a girl in HS that I knew that went to get gas with her mom and happened to meet some friends while at the gas station. She asked her mom if she could go with them to a friend's house and her mom let her go along. 15 minutes later, the car with her friends went straight into a tree. She wasn't wearing a seat belt and went head first into that tree. They were going too fast and hit a slick spot, but that doesn't mean that anyone deserved to die.

[miked]

As I've said to my wife like 100 times, they need to raise the driving age. New Jersey (where I grew up) doesn't seem to have as many fatal accidents despite higher volume of people and cars, yet my wife (grew up in the ATL) had 2 good friends die in car accidents in high school. Every week on the news here there is something about a high school kid wrecking his car and dying (last week I think the star QB of Berkmar or something). Maybe waiting that extra year and making it harder for a license would be better served in the states around here.

Also, in NJ and MA (the 2 places I've lived the longest besides GA) have a fairly comprehensive check for inspection, even going under the hood. I failed once in MA because my lights weren't 100% on the X. Here in ATL, I've seen cars with chicken wire for rearview windows, a baby door (accordian-style) for a passenger door, all with passed inspections because the emmissions were good. It's all very silly down south, where the majority of fatal accidents seem to occur (by that website).

[Huckleberry]

Terrible. Reminds me how lucky I am to still be around and to have the wonderful family I have.

I was party, both as passenger and driver, to stuff just as stupid when I was 16. I'm thankful to have never gotten unlucky. Some of the things I did were also inexcusable and I get angry with myself when I think about them. But I did them. I got lucky. Some aren't so fortunate.

78mph in a 30mph neighborhood zone was probably my worst as a driver. If you're curious it was midnight after a football game I had played in. I was a passenger as my friend turned the lights off on an unlighted two-lane highway to pass another friend (Camp Ben McCulloch on the way back from Salt Lick for the Austin crowd).

I'm sure others have done things just as dumb. I feel for the kid's family and I'm sorry he paid the price.

[flounder]

I don't know about MA, but the inspection system in NJ is a joke. It's just a big scam for auto mechanics to charge inspection fees. I refused to pay the fee and just went to the state run inspection stations. I would always fail because of stupid things. One time I failed because the tinting was too dark over my third brakelight, which would be fine except you aren't required to even have a third brakelight.

Meanwhile my friends who drove cars in much worse condition would just go to a private station, pay the fee and pass the inspection with hardly a glance at their vehicles. You can just drive around the highways of NJ and see the cars that have "passed" inspection and realize the system isn't keeping unsafe cars off the road.

[rowech]

nothing good happens after midnight...

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by rowech

nothing good happens after midnight...

My woman and I beg to differ...

[miked]

Originally Posted by flounder

I don't know about MA, but the inspection system in NJ is a joke. It's just a big scam for auto mechanics to charge inspection fees. I refused to pay the fee and just went to the state run inspection stations. I would always fail because of stupid things. One time I failed because the tinting was too dark over my third brakelight, which would be fine except you aren't required to even have a third brakelight.

Meanwhile my friends who drove cars in much worse condition would just go to a private station, pay the fee and pass the inspection with hardly a glance at their vehicles. You can just drive around the highways of NJ and see the cars that have "passed" inspection and realize the system isn't keeping unsafe cars off the road.

Well, I always went to a state inpection also in NJ and they've dinged me for some pretty silly stuff. I'm not 100% certain it makes cars safer, but I know it can act as a deterrent. In MA, I had to go to a station and the inspection took 20 minutes and I failed for having a nick in my side miror, an off-centered light, and something else. In GA, I drove up to a little tent near my Kroger, and 5 minutes later I was good for the year with just a sensor in the exhaust.

My main point was the older age and more stringent/costly inspection may play a role in reducing the fatality rates. Either way, letting kids drive at 16 and making it really easy for them to keep it pu to state standards should be re-addressed.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by rowech

nothing good happens after midnight...

That's a line from a song and now it's driving me crazy that I can't think of the song.

[Izulde]

Isn't there a city-imposed curfew for kids under 18 anyway? I know here in Racine we have it's either 10 pm or 11 pm (I forget which) curfew for kids under 18.