Car Accident

Three teenage students were involved in a car accident on Sunday morning on Hill Crest Lane in Centreville while playing a game of car surfing. One student is left in critical condition while the other two sustain minor injuries.

Brigid Murphy, Lisa Smythe and Jon Johnson, all attending the local Centreville High School, were coming home from a party when the idea of car surfing came around. Car surfing is when you ride on top of a moving vehicle.

They all decided to participate with Brigid Murphy riding on the trunk, Lisa Smythe riding on the hood and Jon Johnson, 18, driving the 1998 Honda Civic. Jon Johnson was driving about 40 miles per hour, according to Sergeant Arun Govil, for about ten minutes and turned a corner when Lisa Smythe and Brigid Murphy slid off. Lisa Smythe held onto the windshield sustaining minor injuries while Brigid on the trunk had nothing to hold onto and fell off.

John Johnson immediately got out of the car and call for an ambulance. Brigid Murphy was taken to Centerville Memorial Hospital and remains there in critical condition. Lisa Smythe’s injuries are far more mental than physical. She retains minimal pain in her wrist and right leg but is emotionally struck whenever mentioning Brigid Murphy, her best friend since 1st grade.

They participated in tennis and track at their local high school. Lisa exclaimed “I don’t know what I would do if Brigid died.” Lisa is even sadder when mentioning the type of relationship Jon and Brigid had comparing them to Edward and Bella of the Twilight Saga. Lisa went on to describe their future, they planned to go to Idaho State together.

Lisa has talked to her parents about the tragedy as they were upset and worried about her but the one person she wants to talk to most is Brigid who still remains unconscious.

A lesson may not have been learned from this tragic accident as Lisa Smythe continues to want to car surf depending on the life of Brittany Murphy. She used to car surf quite often never realizing the potential dangers of sitting on top of a car unrestrained until now.

Lisa continues to blame the speed and Jon Johnson for the accident. The party at a friend of the local high school student’s house was the last place many friends of Brigid Murphy saw the friendly girl and it could possibly be the last memory they have left of her.

The parents of Brigid Murphy remain in the hospital hoping that their daughter will be able to live. Brigid Murphy had big plans for the future hoping to attend college with her boyfriend and maintain her friendship with Lisa Smythe.

-Courtney Thornton