if you don't think 18 year olds are children I assume you to be 18 or not much older. do you know why insurance companies charge more for 18-25 year olds for car insurance? it doesn't have to do with driving skill, or that they are new drivers.

the frontal cortex of male brains is nowhere near finished developing by age 18. young males are reckless, they engage in risky behavior because the frontal cortex - the decision making and problem solving part of the brain isn't fully formed - at all.

this boy is a child. and children make stupid mistakes. no, this wasn't a one time thing, I wouldn't expect it to be. do you know how many boys engage in speeding? most of them at least once, many of them multiple times. I did. my friends did. we used to race each other, frequently. assholes? very much so. bad people? not at all.

I do not know what his reaction was during the crash or the days after. I do not know if he showed remorse nor do I know what that would even look like towards a man who lost his beloved and his child.

the judgement over this horror is astounding and I'm sure most of the people commenting on it in this sub are children. not much experience therefore not much ability to view and perceive multiple sides of a situation - underdeveloped brains literally incapable at certain times to perceive and problem solve correctly.

I was once a child. I know what it's like. but children grow and people change. this was an unfortunate accident at the hands of a reckless boy. the sentence is too harsh. at least you and I can agree about that. I feel awful for this kids mother. absolutely awful.

I pray you never make any kind of decision, whether as stupid and reckless as this kid, or something more subtle - perhaps fuled by fear, anger, drugs or a combination. Humans live a long time. make good choices.