Racing is a problem. People do it because it’s fun and exciting. But when done on an uncontrolled street—it’s extremely dangerous. One family is coming to terms with this fact now, after their teenage son was killed in an alleged Houston street race.

According to CBS Houston, the teen was driving his black Camaro and allegedly racing a Mercedes-Benz when the accident occurred on Briar Forest near Eldridge Parkway.

He lost control of his Camaro, jumped a curb and hit a small tree before colliding with a larger tree, wrapping the Camaro around it and dying on impact.

Officials say the roads were wet at the time of the accident and paired with the high rate of speed, it was a recipe for disaster.

Statistics on the dangers of racing are hard to come by. Initially, between 2001 and 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that 153 people were killed in 122 crashes involving street racing between 2001 and 2010, but this was after they changed how they calculated their totals.

Before the change, that number was 1,047 racing deaths between 2001 and 2008. The difference in the statistics is due to the fact that the NHTSA now tallies only those deaths that occur in situations where one or more drivers face criminal racing charges after the fact.

Street races most often occur at night. In organized events, streets may be temporarily blocked off. However, unauthorized and illegal races occur with few safety precautions taken to avoid the involvement of other traffic.

Racers may speed through intersections and lights, and even swerve in and out of other traffic. In cases like this, the risk of a serious car accident is high.

When someone takes your safety into their hands and puts your life in danger, they must be held responsible. Whether the other driver was racing, driving too fast, or simply distracted, if the accident wasn’t your fault, contact my office today to discuss your case. As a Houston serious car accident attorney, I may be able to help you in your pursuit of justice.