Thursday October 5, 2000

MARIETTA — A 17-year-old Lassiter High School senior was in critical condition at WellStar Kennestone Hospital Wednesday night after losing control of his BMW and hitting a tree Wednesday.

Witnesses told police Patrick Michael Duggan of Roswell was driving his BMW M3 at a high speed on Steinhauer Road about 1:45 p.m. when the car left the road and struck a tree near Trickum Road.

Duggan was alone in the car at the time of the accident. Cobb police spokesman Brody Staud said it appeared Duggan was not wearing his seat belt when the accident occurred.

Two other Lassiter students were killed less than two weeks ago in another accident where speed apparently played a role.

Although Staud said it does not appear that Duggan was drag racing at the time of the crash Wednesday, police think Jarrod Michael Norman, 16, of east Cobb and his passenger, John Stephen Bickelhaup, 16, of Roswell, were drag racing.

The two were killed Sept. 23 when Norman lost control of his Chevrolet Camaro and crashed into a brick marquee at the Community Bible Church on Chastain Road.

Staud said drivers need to have a healthy respect for the vehicle they are driving.

“You are driving a 3,000-pound weapon,” he said. “If you don’t take it seriously the weapon can be used against you. We lost two young adults last month and we could now possible lose a third from the same school.”

Staud said many teen-agers have a feeling of invincibility that can impair their judgment.

“It’s almost gotten to the point where something has to happen to someone before they say it can happen to them,” Staud said.