Events Calendar
In This Section
Bunbury helps push Zips soccer team forward
Browns' roster nearly devoid of consistent players
Willard: Convicted UA trustee is no quitter
Actor Bernsen enjoying ride of derby movie project
Giving Doll ministry hits 5,000 milestone
Region's stocking full of ideas for those on the prowl for holiday gifts
Retired firefighter who broke color barrier among those being honored
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
Angel Food Ministries helps stretch grocery dollars
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Hitchens leads Zips in second-half comeback
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Holmgren expresses interest in Browns position
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 13-47
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Indiana Pacers – Here’s to LBJ and Free Throws
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Federal Judge Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Driver, 17, had gotten license earlier in day
By Connie Bloom
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Jun 05, 2008
A Barberton teen only had his driver's license for a few hours Wednesday when he lost control of his red Ford Escort in New Franklin and lost his life.
He was driving too fast, his father said.
Zachary Jordan, 17, a junior at Barberton High School, like most teens, thought he was invincible.
''Zach wasn't the perfect kid, but he wasn't an irresponsible, immature idiot,'' said his father, John Jordan, who works at Jacobson Manufacturing in Medina.
''He was an immature boy. He felt he was untouchable. He felt nothing was going to happen to him. He got proved wrong in the worst possible way.''
This is a dangerous time of year — particularly for young drivers, said Lt. Eric Sheppard of the Highway Patrol in Canton.
''We always dread spring and the end of school,'' he said. ''You have a tendency to get out of school and take unnecessary risks.''
Zachary had just finished school for the year, his dad said. He wanted to be a paramedic or ambulance driver.
He was talking to his girlfriend on his cell phone when the accident happened, his mom, Cindy, said.
''He was not drag-racing like they said on the Internet,'' she said, but he was talking about racing.
He was on top of the world and looking forward to a wonderful summer when he and his dad headed for the license bureau Wednesday morning.
''I took him this morning for his driving test,'' said his dad. ''He passed and we went . . . and got his license.''
After that, Zachary drove to school in his Escort, which he bought with money he earned at his part-time job at Rizzi's Pizza. He paid a fee for a summer algebra course and
took his chemistry final, which completed his requirements for the year, his dad said. He didn't have to attend the last day of school today.
Just before noon, Zach and several friends headed out for a ride on Rex Hill Road. His friends were each driving their own cars when Zach lost control on the unfamiliar street. His mother said he spun out on gravel.
''The gentleman made a poor decision to drive his vehicle in an aggressive manner when he's not even an experienced driver,'' Lt. Sheppard said. ''He crested a hill, lost control driving off the right side of the roadway when the vehicle overturned and struck a tree.''
Zachary was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after noon by the medical examiner, Sheppard said.
He was a good boy and student, his family said. He loved his sister, Katie, 10, who attends Woodford Elementary School. He had a lot of friends at school and Barberton Friends Church and attended a youth group in Doylestown.
Zach loved Ford Mustangs and would have liked to have one. ''He liked to read and exercise,'' said his dad.
''He had a girlfriend and was growing up,'' his dad said. ''In the last few months, he was not starting to move away from us but to have a life outside of us. . . . He had big plans for the summer.''
''We'll miss him,'' said his mother.
The Jordans want Zachary's death to be a cautionary tale for others.
''Particularly teenage boys,'' his dad said. ''Your parents aren't stupid and you aren't invincible, immortal. You're not going to live forever. I'm going to be 40 and I'm not so old to think nothing will touch me. This is coming from somebody who just lost a 17-year-old son. Think before you act.''
Counselors are to be at the high school today to console grieving students, Sheppard said.
Connie Bloom can be reached at 330-996-3568 or cbloom@thebeaconjournal.com.
A Barberton teen only had his driver's license for a few hours Wednesday when he lost control of his red Ford Escort in New Franklin and lost his life.
Get the full article here.
