Opinion: Chasing the rush, facing the wreckage

Los Angeles Times

09-07-2025

Julian, 17, pulled out of a Ralphs parking lot on Devonshire Street in Granada Hills at 10:00 PM on April 14, 2025, in a BMW M5 CS. In the passenger's seat was David, also 17. Leaving the car meet-up attended by young professionals and car enthusiasts, however, they didn't know that it would be the last time either of them would ever see cars the same way.
The same two boys who once lived and breathed all things cars, obsessed with their curves and speed, are now facing a very different future.
Right before the collision, David screamed from inside the vehicle, 'F- – -! Is this really happening?!' before ordering Julian to 'cross [his] arms across [his] chest' to prevent them from breaking during impact. Today, Julian, who is no longer insurable, resorts to lifts from his family members or Ubers to go anywhere in the city.
If it hadn't been for Life360, an app that triggers instantaneous notifications upon impact or detection of a crash, there's no saying if both boys would have made it to the ER in time. The life-saving app that tracks real-time speed and location pinpointed with precision where their crash occurred.
The aftermath of Julian's BMW M5 CS colliding into a guardrail off Devonshire Street in Granada Hills.
In the U.S. alone, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens. About 1 out of every 8 fatal crashes involves a young driver . Every day, 8 teens die due to car crashes , leaving hundreds more injured, and California has the second highest number of crashes in the country involving young drivers.
These occurrences are preventable, and a closer examination of their causes can help drivers and families understand why they're likely to happen in the first place.
The rise of influencers on TikTok and Instagram doing 'donuts,' 'drifts,' and driving as if they're on a racetrack isn't helping matters. Teens, who are easily influenced, seek out the adrenaline rush from attempting the same maneuvers on an empty road.
Long-time Brentwood resident Angella Bina, 52, whose own brother totaled his car after crashing into a light pole off Sepulveda Boulevard, is adamant about safe driving when it comes to her own children. 'If something ever happens to you, my world and life will come to an end,' she tells her son each time he takes the car out late.
The Center for Disease Control reports that teenagers make critical errors that can lead to serious crashes and engage in risky driving behaviors, especially when a male teenage passenger is present. They're more likely than older drivers to not recognize dangerous situations.
Insurance companies keen on this even offer 'Good Student Discount' options for student drivers with better academic performance in school. The assumption here is that young drivers who are responsible when it comes to their studies are more likely to be responsible drivers .
But some adolescents will disagree. Other influences, such as marijuana, illicit drugs, alcohol, and prescription medication, which can be abused by students of all academic performance levels, naturally impair driving. 'None of my friends have driven drunk, but high? Teah,' said one Milken Community School senior.
One recent high school grad, Liam, had just left a dinner party in Malibu. His dad had let him take out his treasured Audi RS7 for the occasion, reminding him to 'be smart.'
The ocean air blew through the cabin as Liam headed north up a near-empty PCH, the twin-turbo V8 purring under his feet. As the city lights faded behind him and the curves of the highway opened up, Liam pushed on the gas. 70 MPH became 90, then 110. The Audi gripped the asphalt like it was built for it, but just as it was passing Zuma Beach, a sharp bend snuck up quicker than expected.
The car flipped, once, then twice, before landing upside down, just off the side of the road. Miraculously, Liam walked away with minor injuries, but the car was destroyed. Liam's debacle is a reminder of not just the caveats to driving, but of how fast everything can go wrong.
'Seeing my family's faces after making it out alive showed me that they truly cared,' Liam said. 'I've learned not to take life for granted, and that a few seconds of adrenaline rush isn't worth my life.'
Devin Maghen, however, wasn't as fortunate. 29 years old today, Maghen's life spun out of control the day his car made an unintentional sharp left turn into oncoming traffic while driving south on Sepulveda Boulevard on an ordinary day. He has been suffering from brain trauma ever since the accident 13 years ago.
What's left of Maghen's 2012 Infiniti G Coupe from the head-on collision on Sepulveda Blvd.
To this day, Maghen has no memory of what exactly caused the crash, but the collision put him into a coma that lasted three months. When he finally woke up, he had to relearn everything: how to walk, talk, eat, and lie down. Today, he is legally blind.
In a recent exchange between Maghen and Julian, Maghen made a point to say, 'My friends were there for me when I got in my accident, but they started to move on, and I was stuck in the hospital alone. I don't blame them.'
Maghen's story isn't unique to him. Today, Maghen is a music instructor at Parsi Music & Art Center. However, many high-achieving teens, even those taking honors and AP courses, accomplished and talented in sports, music, or the arts, have seen their lives take a sharp turn in the blink of an eye. The allure of a driver's license or the attraction of the roads that make experiencing freedom at this age appear exhilarating is not all it appears to be.
Driving is serious. A car is not just transportation. It is a two-ton piece of metal that can change lives instantaneously—and a powerful reminder of life's fragility. It is a wake-up call to take the responsibility of driving seriously.
Check out AAA's Teen Driver Safety bulletin that provides not only essential, common-sense tips for every young driver, and also this useful guide for both parents and youth. Download the free Life360 App on your phone today. Related