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Deaths of teens offer sad lesson Change in license rules aims to save lives of young By Jessica Smith The message lawmakers tried to send with the state's new teen driving law hit home in Jackson County this week with the deaths of two teenagers. Ruth Anne Fernandez, 16, of Jacksonville, died when the pickup truck she was riding in smashed into a tree as it rounded a curve on Highway 238, about half a mile outside Jacksonville Thursday night. Sean Ray Wellbaum, 18, of Talent, died in a similar scenario Friday morning, after he was thrown from a vehicle that veered into a tree and flipped over in the 4800 block of Sterling Creek Road. The 16-year-old drivers of the vehicles, Johanna Beth Dorris of Medford and Matthew D. Caucutt of Jacksonville, suffered only minor injuries and were treated and released from Rogue Valley Medical Center. "Having a crash like this isn't my ideal way of explaining" the need for the law, said Oregon State Police Sgt. Ralph Nelson, who is investigating the Highway 238 crash. "But this is something that needs to be taken real seriously by the community, by parents and by young drivers," he said. The law that restricts new drivers, which took effect March 1, limits hours and passenger loads during the first year teens have their licenses. Only teens licensed after March 1 are required to follow the new guidelines. Nelson would not say when Dorris, who was driving when Fernandez was killed, received her license, citing the open investigation. She turned 16 on Feb. 8. Caucutt, who turned 16 last October and was driving when Wellbaum died, apparently was licensed in February and is unaffected by the teen-driving restrictions. Authorities could not say Friday whether police have cited any teen drivers for violating the rules. But sheriff's department Sgt. John Atkins said officers generally give warnings the first few months after legislation becomes law. "I would guess that no one has issued citations yet," Atkins said. Nelson would not speculate on whether Dorris will be cited in the Highway 238 crash. According to preliminary reports, she was driving a 1989 Dodge Dakota east on Highway 238 about 9:15 p.m. Thursday when the truck veered off the road and struck a tree. She and Fernandez both wore seat belts. The passenger's side of the truck took the brunt of the impact. Fernandez died before police arrived. Police and medical teams worked for several hours to free Fernandez's body, which was pinned inside the truck, Nelson said. Crews used emergency equipment to cut the silver truck away from Fernandez's body. Speed and the drivers' age and level of experience were likely factors in both crashes, authorities said. Both drivers were probably driving faster than the posted speed limits and were unable to control their vehicles, Nelson and Atkins said. Caucutt and Wellbaum were apparently just two miles from the driver's home on Sterling Creek Road at 11:43 a.m. Friday, when the accident occurred. Caucutt was wearing a seat belt, but Wellbaum took his off to attend to a dog that was loose in the car, the preliminary investigation showed. "Kids are always saying `Why do we have to do this?"' Nelson said, referring to some teens' aversion to the new law, which attempts to keep them focused while driving. "The fact is, it will save lives." Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA