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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.
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