Students at Hampton-Dumont High School got a stark reminder Wednesday (Aug. 27) of the dangers of speeding. Iowa State Patrol Trooper Jared Arbegast brought the “Forever 17” display to the school, joined by Hampton Police Chief Mark Morrison and Captain Mike Halsne.
The display features the wrecked Chevy Camaro from a July 1, 2022 crash in Dubuque that killed three teens, including two 17-year-old passengers. Investigators say the car was traveling 104 miles per hour at the time of the crash. Trooper Arbegast says speeding remains a top factor in serious crashes. State data shows speeding-related fatalities jumped 17 percent from 2019 to 2020 and another five percent in 2021. Nationally, speeding contributed to 29 percent of all deadly crashes in 2020, killing more than 11,000 people.
The Forever 17 exhibit visits schools across Iowa, including West Fork High School in Sheffield earlier this week, to make the risks real for young drivers.
