When Saline High School senior Chris Reid was killed six weeks ago after the car he was driving struck a tree alongside Lohr Road, the cause of the crash was unclear and troubling.
There were no signs of braking or swerving. The weather was clear. Witnesses described the car as "drifting off the roadway."
Now, based on evidence and toxicology reports, Pittsfield Township Police believe Reid, 18, was "huffing" from a can of dust remover moments before the crash, leading him to lose control of the car.
Police said on Monday that rescue workers at the time of the crash found on Reid a canister of dust remover and its open packaging before the teen was transported to University of Michigan Medical Center, where he died from injuries sustained in the accident March 31.
Investigators learned that Reid purchased the dust remover approximately 10 minutes before the crash, police said.
Toxicology reports confirmed that substance abuse by Reid was a contributing factor to the crash, according to police.
"My heart goes out to the Reid family," said Ritchie Coleman, the public safety community coordinator for Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety, adding that "huffing" is more common than many parents believe.
Huffing is intentionally inhaling the fumes or vapors from common household products to get high. It can cause an initial euphoria, then drowsiness and lightheadedness. Its effect is rapid. Products often used are correction fluid, rubber cement, nitrous oxide, hair spray, air fresheners, glue, spray paint and dust remover, which is typically used to clean computer keyboards and electronics.
More than 2 million kids aged 12-17 have used some form of an inhalant to get high, according to the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition.
"No community is immune," Coleman said. "No family is immune."
Schools Superintendent Beverley Geltner, who has been actively decrying the level of substance abuse in Saline schools, said she planned to work with Coleman to address the need to educate all members of the community on the dangers of inhalants.
"We're going to educate more effectively and integrate it more with parents," she said. "It's a community effort. We all have to be involved."
Educational programs will be expanded next year to ensure that students know the risks and dangers of inhaling chemical vapors, Geltner said.
"This is a teachable moment for us as a community," Coleman said. "The sad part is that it can take a tragedy like this to get parents' attention."
Coleman, who does not believe Reid's use of inhalants was an isolated incident, urged parents to look for signs of changes in their children's behavior and to ask questions.
"Kids will engage you more than you think they will," Coleman said. "This generation is exposed to so much more through instant media, and the peer pressure they're experiencing these days is unprecedented."
Coleman said information available on the Internet about substance abuse is prevalent and easily accessible.
Last year, NIPC urged the popular video Web site Youtube.com to take down a video showing a teen inhaling Dust-Off while driving. The teen's car swerves in the video and takes out some mailboxes.
"Parents have to be so aware," Coleman said. "We all have to play a part in this in our community."
The parents of Chris Reid, Lee and Virginia, have founded a scholarship in their son's name. The memorial fund will be used to grant college scholarships to Saline High School students whose studies and interests are similar to Chris Reid's ambitions.
A student in Saline since kindergarten, Reid enjoyed sports, music and movies. He was considering studying business, environmental science, or history at Grand Valley State University. He was an avid swimmer and worked as a lifeguard at the Saline Recreation Center and at Rolling Hills Water Park.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 1-734-429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety Release
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash - Follow-up
CRASH DATE: 03/31/07 TIME: 7:14 p.m. DAY OF WEEK: Saturday
LOCATION: Lohr Road, north of Waterways Drive.
COMPLAINT NUMBER: 07-3708
INVESTIGATION BY: Accident Investigation Team
REMARKS:
On 3/31/07, the Pittsfield Police Department investigated a single vehicle fatal injury crash in which a motor vehicle traveling southbound on Lohr Road left the roadway and struck a tree.
The driver, the lone occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced deceased by medical personnel.
Deceased: Christopher Charles Reid W/M 02/07/89
Witnesses reported the vehicle drifted off the roadway and struck a tree without applying any brakes. Rescue workers observed a canister of dust remover on the driver's person.
Dust remover is a product which can be abused by persons seeking a euphoric effect similar to alcohol intoxication. Inhalant use or "huffing" users experience initial excitation, then drowsiness and lightheadedness.
Investigators discovered that the dust remover was purchased by the driver approximately ten minutes prior to the crash at a local business. The package was found opened on the driver's person at the crash scene.
Lab reports indicated that substance abuse by the driver was a contributing factor to the crash.
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