Teenager in Mt. Hebron Collision Remains Critical

The 18-year-old driver in last week’s collision near an Ellicott City high school remains in critical condition Monday, according to a spokesperson at University of Maryland’s Shock Trauma Center.

Jeffrey Conner Sinclair was leaving a Mt. Hebron parking lot after shcool on Thursday, Jan. 3, with four passengers in a Honda Civic. Police say Sinclair drove onto Route 99 in front of a Mack truck. 

The collision, police said, may have been a result of Sinclair’s failure to stop at a stop sign. The four passengers with him were all treated at Howard County General Hospital and released; a helicopter flew Sinclair to Shock Trauma, where he has remained in critical condition for three days.

Patch readers have weighed in, saying that the Mt. Hebron – and high school parking lots in general, are unsafe places to drive. 

Reader Justin Case said he sees similar driving patterns all the time:

I drive a fuel truck for a living & believe me, drivers in a hurry, especially kids getting out of a full day of school, constantly pull out in front of trucks because they don't have the patience to get behind a slower moving vehicle. What they don't realize is that we cannot stop our trucks on a dime like a car can no matter how slow we're moving.

User MyBrandy sees it, too:

Failing to stop at stop sign, trying to "beat" oncoming traffic, speeding through and out of the parking lot happens every day at all of our high schools. It is a most terrifying sight and I am surprised more accidents don't happen. My prayers for this young man and his family and friends.

High school parking lots in general are a concern for EL, who has found a way to try to stay safe:

High school parking lots are scary places at dismissal time. I have chosen to sit in my car for a couple of minutes rather than compete with that.

Regardless of the cause, my prayers and sympathies go out to this family and all his friends.

These types of tragedies are so horrible and to have it all be in the public eye, I think, makes it even more difficult.

And Teresa Beller has particular concerns about the Mt. Hebron lot:

Two of my children are recent graduates from Mt Hebron. Leaving the parking lot at that location is extremely difficult. Visibility is very limited in one direction and traffic is heavy most of the day. That accident could have happened to any one of our children. My prayers are with Jeff's family and the Mt Hebron community.

Do you feel safe driving near high schools at dismissal time? What could be done to make the Mt. Hebron exit safer?