The Car Accident

Interviews

Roger Clementine:

Why were you driving a car when you don't have a license or permit? 

I wanted to go to McDonald's but nobody would take me, so I figured, why not go myself? I look old enough to be 16. All I have to do is drive for a little bit and go get me a Big Mac.

How did you get ahold of your uncle's car? 

My uncle and I are neighbors, so I just walked over. He works late most days, and I know how to get into his house. He doesn't ever use the Studebaker. It's more of an heirloom of some sorts. I've always wanted to take it out for a spin.

How did you learn to "drive" if you are only 13?

My dad taught me when I was just a wee kid. All you have to do really is push the peddle. Use the blinker. Easy enough!

John Jacob Jingleheimer-Smith:

How long have you had your car?

It used to my father's car, but when he passed, I bought it from my mother. So about 10 years Melba and I have had it. And now it's gone.

How do you feel about this car being beyond repair? 

I feel like I lost a part of my father. Sure, I have other things to remember him by, but whenever I was driving to work, or just cruising along the road with Melba, I thought about him. 

What do you remember about the accident?

I don't remember much to tell you the truth. We were driving along, and then all of a sudden I see this really old car. I hadn't seen one of those in so long! And I wondered, who could possibly still own one? So I looked at the driver, and it was a little boy! I remember being very surprised, and then I guess after that we crashed with him.

Melba Jingleheimer-Smith:

What was the cause of the collision? 

I didn't know this then, but apparently there was a little boy driving that car! Now how awful is that. He clearly didn't know what he was up to and was bound to cause an accident. I guess we just happened to be in the way.

How serious is your husband's head injury?

He's in a coma right now. The doctors have a lot of hope that he will wake up any day now. I believe them. I pray and pray.

Can you describe how the scene went down? 

I heard my husband say, "Melba! Look at that car!". Then that old car swerved right into us and my husband let go of the wheel. It was hard to get out of the car, my legs don't go like they used to, but we managed to get out before it caught on fire. I had to nearly drag my husband out. And he's not as light as he looks.

Pedestrian Bob Buckner:

What were doing on the day of the collision?

I was going for a jog along the road. Nice sunny day, kids were at school.

What did you see? 

Well I had pressed the button to cross the street right? And I see this really old car, and I'm just staring at it, because wow! Never seen a car like that before. I watched the movie Cars with my kids, and I have to say, that car looked just like Doc. Anyway, apparently the driver of the car doesn't know the rules of the road, because they ran a red light! Sure sure, everyone does sometimes, but this was a very crowded intersection. And sure enough, BAM. Crashes into some 80's looking car. Awful. 

The Car Accident

On a sunny September afternoon, at the intersection of First Street and Slaughter Lane, there was a serious car collision between a two vehicles. The people in the accident were 13 year old Roger Clementine,  John Jacob and Melba Jingleheimer-Smith.

No lives were lost that day, but John Jacob is in serious condition.

"He's in a coma right now." his wife Melba said. "The doctors have a lot of hope that he will wake up any day now. I believe them." Melba only suffered a bloody nose.

Melba luckily recalls nearly everything that happened during the accident.

"I heard my husband say, "Melba! Look at that car!". Then that old car swerved right into us and my husband let go of the wheel." She said. "It was hard to get out of the car, my legs don't go like they used to, but we managed to get out before it caught on fire. I had to nearly drag my husband out."

The Jingleheimer-Smith's believe the collision was not their fault.

"I didn't know this then, but apparently there was a little boy driving that car!" Melba said. "Now how awful is that. He clearly didn't know what he was up to and was bound to cause an accident. I guess we just happened to be in the way."

Thirteen year old Roger Clementine was charged with driving without a license.

"I wanted to go to McDonald's but nobody would take me, so I figured, why not go myself?" Clementine said. "I look old enough to be sixteen."

Clementine has also been accused of stealing his uncle's car.

"My uncle and I are neighbors, so I just walked over. He works late most days, and I know how to get into his house. " Clementine said. "He doesn't ever use the Studebaker. It's more of an heirloom of some sorts."

It was a very nice day, so naturally there were joggers out to witness the scene.

"Well I had pressed the button to cross the street right? And I see this really old car, and I'm just staring at it, because wow!" pedestrian Bob Buckner said. "Apparently the driver of the car doesn't know the rules of the road, because they ran a red light! Sure sure, everyone does sometimes, but this was a very crowded intersection. And sure enough, BAM."

Unfortunately, the Jingleheimer-Smith's car was damaged beyond repair.

"It used to my father's car." John Jacob said. "I feel like I lost a part of my father. Sure, I have other things to remember him by, but whenever I was driving to work, or just cruising along the road with Melba, I thought about him." Clementine's car only suffered a crumpled fender.

The Yugo Firebelcher was precious to the Jingleheimer-Smith family.

"It used to my father's car, but when he passed, I bought it from my mother." John Jacob said. "So about 10 years Melba and I have had it. And now it's gone."

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