Original sentence: In recent press interviews she has said that: "All I can say about that (is) it was a very, very, tragic accident I was involved in when I was 17 years old, almost 40-something years ago.It was terrible for everyone involved," ... "I know this as an adult, and even more as a parent, it was crushing... for the family involved and for me as well," she said.On November 6, 1963, a seventeen year old Welch failed to stop at a designated intersection and struck and killed former boyfriend Michael Douglas, aged seventeen.She and her passenger, Judy Dykes (also aged seventeen), were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.She was a very popular student at school and attended the same high school as Tommy Franks.Welch was not charged
Edited sentence: " Another author said the accident "was one of those hinges in a life, a moment when destiny shuddered, then lurched in a new direction.And she did not learn his identity until later still, when her parents arrived and broke the news to her.Commenting on the tragedy when First Lady, she said "All I can say about that (is) it was a very, very, tragic accident I was involved in when I was 17 years old, almost 40-something years ago.Douglas was thrown from his car and broke his neck, dying instantly.Her biographer explained that Laura "did not find out that the driver of the other vehicle had died at the scene until later when she and her girlfriend were being treated at the hospital.In its aftermath, Laura became more cautious and less spontaneous, more inclined to be compassionate, less inclined to judge another person.It shattered her.It was terrible for everyone involved...I know this as an adult, and even more as a parent, it was crushing...for the family involved and for me as well," she said.On November 6, 1963, while driving to a party in the early evening, a seventeen year old Laura failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with a Corvair sedan  driven by Michael Douglas.She was a very popular student at school and attended the same high school as General  Tommy Franks.The Police were unable to establish which of the two drivers was at fault and did not believe believe Laura guilty of any wrongdoing that warranted any charges.The tragedy was made even worse by Welch's close friendship with Douglas, who attended the same high school as Laura