It does matter. The 17 year old brain is impulsive. Racing seemed like a good idea at the time without any regard to consequences. Now multiple families are affected (forever) 
But
Here we have this young person. What to do with him? Can he be rehabilitated? Do we pay to house him for years?
Can we use this to try and save others from the same fate?
Maybe he should do a long term speaking tour among local teens explaining the damage caused by impulsive behavior.
I don't really know.