Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill that would tighten the restrictions on young drivers in Iowa. An Altoona mother hopes the plan will help others avoid the tragedy her daughter experienced.
"Its the phone call you never want to get," said Barb Cassler, recalling the snowy day in December when she got word that her daughter, Elizabeth, had been in a car accident.
They lost control of the car, and they went into the oncoming lane of a pick-up that had a snowblade," said Barb.
Elizabeth was one of three passengers in the car, but her seatbelt and the airbag were not enough protection. Doctors said she wouldn't make it.
"I just, from the get-go, said that's not going to happen. You just have to fight," said Barb.
After two months in a coma, fighting became Elizabeth's specialty. She spent another four months in the hospital and then four months at On With Life rehabilitation in Ankeny.
"I had to relearn everything. I had to relearn how to open my eyes. I had to relearn how to swallow," said Elizabeth Cassler.
She says she's also learned how to forgive the 15 year old driver who's inexperience, police said, contributed to the crash.
"Research has shown us that additional passengers and nighttime driving are the riskiest situations new licensed drives at this age are in," said Kath Leggett, the Director of the Center for Advocacy and Outreach at Blank Children's Hospital.
The hospital is working with lawmakers to help protect teens on the road. Their plan limits young drivers to one non-family passenger under 21 year-old, and requires a full year of practice with a permit instead of just six months. The plan also bans driving for teens with intermediate licenses from 11PM to 5AM, an expansion of the current ban that begins at 12:30AM.
While it may mean fewer teens hitching a ride with friends, Elizabeth says the inconvenience is a small price to pay. "I know its not the cool thing to ride the bus, but if I would have known I'd crash I'd gladly have ridden the bus that day," she said.
The has already passed in the Senate, and the House is expected to take it up next week.
"Its the phone call you never want to get," said Barb Cassler, recalling the snowy day in December when she got word that her daughter, Elizabeth, had been in a car accident.
They lost control of the car, and they went into the oncoming lane of a pick-up that had a snowblade," said Barb.
Elizabeth was one of three passengers in the car, but her seatbelt and the airbag were not enough protection. Doctors said she wouldn't make it.
"I just, from the get-go, said that's not going to happen. You just have to fight," said Barb.
After two months in a coma, fighting became Elizabeth's specialty. She spent another four months in the hospital and then four months at On With Life rehabilitation in Ankeny.
"I had to relearn everything. I had to relearn how to open my eyes. I had to relearn how to swallow," said Elizabeth Cassler.
She says she's also learned how to forgive the 15 year old driver who's inexperience, police said, contributed to the crash.
"Research has shown us that additional passengers and nighttime driving are the riskiest situations new licensed drives at this age are in," said Kath Leggett, the Director of the Center for Advocacy and Outreach at Blank Children's Hospital.
The hospital is working with lawmakers to help protect teens on the road. Their plan limits young drivers to one non-family passenger under 21 year-old, and requires a full year of practice with a permit instead of just six months. The plan also bans driving for teens with intermediate licenses from 11PM to 5AM, an expansion of the current ban that begins at 12:30AM.
While it may mean fewer teens hitching a ride with friends, Elizabeth says the inconvenience is a small price to pay. "I know its not the cool thing to ride the bus, but if I would have known I'd crash I'd gladly have ridden the bus that day," she said.
The has already passed in the Senate, and the House is expected to take it up next week.
