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Teen Faces Charges In Crash

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By LISA A. DAVIS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 25, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - The teenage driver in a crash that killed one classmate and injured another is facing felony charges.

Adam Orton Sanford, now 18, of 2032 Rensselaer Drive, was arrested Wednesday morning on charges of vehicular homicide and manslaughter by culpable negligence. He was released from the Land O' Lakes Jail later that day after posting $20,000 bail.

Sanford couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers say the teen was behind the wheel of his 1999 Isuzu Trooper on Aug. 29, two weeks after school started, when he lost control while speeding on Curley Road.

Witnesses told troopers Sanford had passed several cars by using the right shoulder of the road and was trying to pass one more in a turn lane when his SUV spun out of control and rolled seven or eight times before finally landing upright.

Passenger Matthew Laidley, 17, died shortly after being flown to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. Katelin Kaiser, 17, and Sanford also were flown to St. Joseph's.

All three students were wearing seat belts at the time of the wreck, according to the highway patrol.

Witnesses estimated Sanford's speed just before the wreck at around 80 mph, according to an affidavit. The posted speed limit in that area ranges from 45 to 55 mph.

Laidley, an avid New York Yankees fan, was a senior and honor student at Wesley Chapel High School, and a member of the science and physics clubs.

For his mother, Maria, it's as if the crash happened yesterday.

"We're still so grief-stricken," she said Thursday. "I'm just heartbroken. I miss my baby."

Because she doesn't want any other parent to lose a child, she has embraced a role as community activist, warning of the perils of irresponsible teenage driving.

"It's just a terrible, terrible travesty, or tragedy, I should say. ... Our lives will never be the same."

Maria Laidley has been speaking to students at local schools and said that's just the beginning, now that it's too late to protect her own son.

"I'm parenting Matthew's memory now," she said.

Reporter Todd Leskanic contributed to this report. Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at ldavis@tampatrib.com or (727) 815-1083.

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