The death of a recent Meade High School graduate has urged a PTA member to push for an active response from the school on safe driving.
Gloria Redmiles, grandmother of a Meade High student and corresponding secretary for the school?s Parent Teacher Association, said she plans to push for the school to introduce a safe-driving program with Erie Auto Insurance at Tuesday?s PTA meeting.
The program is “something that could really help a teenager and let them know how dangerous a car can be if you get behind the wheel and treat it like a play toy,” she said.
William Henry Reynolds Jr., 17, died Monday when he crashed his car into a tree on Reece Road in Fort Meade, according to Anne Arundel Police.
There is no indication Reynolds was using drugs or alcohol, and speeding appears to have caused the crash, police said.
“It?s a tragedy what happened to William,” Redmiles said. “I think it?s wonderful for schools to worry about academics, but safety needs to be introduced too.”
Friends and community members gathered Monday night to remember Reynolds with a candlelight vigil at the scene of the crash.
His family plans to hold another vigil at the scene at 8:30 p.m. June 25, which would have been Reynolds? 18th birthday.
“William, from what I saw and the teachers that knew him best, was a positive role model and spoke up in class all the time,” Meade Principal Daryl Kennedy said.
Kennedy said nothing like this incident has occurred during his four years as principal.
The school sent a letter to all students Monday, informing them of the tragedy.
The funeral services will be held in North Carolina.
