It was a devastating accident — and a rare one.

Last month in Laguna Beach, while a 15-year-old girl was out on a driving lesson with her father, their car rolled through a fence and down an embankment from a closed grocery store parking lot to Coast Highway below. She was seriously injured but expected to survive.

Her father, a passenger in the car, did not.

The crash appears to have been caused by the teen confusing the gas and brake pedals, Laguna Beach police Lt. Jesse Schmidt said.

Crashes involving teen drivers are not uncommon. In 2022, 12% of all fatal crashes in California involved young drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And nationally, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of unintentional death in 2020 for people ages 15 to 24.

But fatal crashes involving 15-year-old drivers with permits are far less common.

While the Laguna Beach crash stunned the community, such tragedies are unusual — in part because these drivers are typically more cautious. Teens with permits are often freshly familiar with traffic laws, having just passed the written exam. It’s usually their first time behind the wheel, and they’re required to drive with a licensed adult over 25 — often a parent or professional instructor — which adds a layer of supervision not present for fully licensed drivers.

But even with these safeguards, crashes can still happen. And safety officials say that’s exactly why early driver education and calm, intentional practice are so important.

California Highway Patrol Officer Alex Pereyda wasn’t speaking specifically about the Laguna Beach crash, but said routine misjudgments — like confusing the pedals or misreading a gear — can have serious consequences for new drivers.

“They’re basically learning how to drive for the first time,” Pereyda said. “So the more practice they get, the better they get.”

According to finalized California Highway Patrol data, Los Angeles County recorded 818 fatal crashes overall in 2022. Just one involved a 15-year-old driver at fault. In Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, there were zero fatal crashes involving 15-year-olds that year — despite hundreds of fatalities across those regions.

Preliminary 2024 data shows similarly low numbers: one fatal crash each in Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, and none in Orange County involving 15-year-old drivers. By comparison, those same counties recorded hundreds of fatal crashes overall in 2024 — including 610 in Los Angeles County, 276 in San Bernardino, 247 in Riverside and 154 in Orange. The data is still under review and may change as it is finalized.

While the data doesn’t confirm whether those 15-year-old drivers held learner’s permits, most legal drivers on the road at that age are typically in that phase of the licensing process.

Pereyda helps lead the CHP’s teen driver safety programs, including Start Smart, a class for teens and their parents that covers basic laws, license restrictions, and common risk factors like inexperience and distractions. Another program, Impact Teen Drivers, brings real stories of fatal crashes to high schools, often through family members of victims.

While some crashes are caused by distractions like phones or loud passengers, others come down to instinct and experience — or a lack thereof. That’s why experts urge families to build confidence gradually.

Driving instructors often recommend that new drivers begin in flat, wide-open parking lots, away from other vehicles, to practice basic skills without added pressure. Once teens are comfortable steering, braking and accelerating, they can move on to light traffic areas under supervision.

Pereyda also recommends starting with lower-powered vehicles and emphasizes the tone parents set in the car.

“Try to be as calm as you can,” he said. “You want them to feel comfortable — but not too comfortable — so that they can learn in a healthy way. And make sure they know the responsibility of driving… your life could be taken or another’s could be taken.”