A Spartanburg woman died Monday night while teaching her 13-year-old son how to drive at the Crown Pointe Apartments in Spartanburg. The Spartanburg County Coroner's Office said Janie Mae Hampton, 40, of 201 Powell Mill Rd was pinned between the car her son was driving and a parked car. The car was in reverse at the time of the accident. The car came free from the parked car, and continued in reverse, eventually slamming into an apartment building. The son was not injured. Spartanburg Public Safety is investigating, but say charges are unlikely. They are treating the incident as accidental.
The victim's brother, Johnny Hampton thinks the teen likely panicked. He said the boy saw his mother pinned between the two cars. "He got out of the car and was saying, 'mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, asking what's going on", said Hampton. The victim's sister Barbara is trying to console the teen. "I tell him everything's gonna be alright. Accidents happen. He still blames himself for what happened", said Barbara Hampton.
Police said it is illegal for a 13-year-old to drive a car. One must turn 15 and pass a written test before getting a learner's permit.
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