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This is very true, but there is a flip side.
If he was high, or coming down, crashed that car and then stumbled off and succumbed to his injuries or otherwise perished, then yes, the more knowledge we have as searchers the better (in reality, the only ones who truly need this information however is those who are putting together searches for him though).
So, the flip side?
Well, let's say that he was using and for any number of reasons ran from that crash (fear of disappointing, fear that the cops would find drugs in his system and be arrested, wanting to start fresh, in some sort of psychosis, etc) well, the more info that is put out about the harder it gets for him to come forward. Now his little mishap has made the news and he has even more pressure to face and that may be too much for someone who was very likely fragile to start with.
I just wish, that if he is out there, alive, that he knows that he is 19, he is not wanted by the police, that if he is ok, that he can let LE know and they will not make him go home if that's not what he wants. He can call home, he can call LE, he can call a helpline, go to a church, a shelter; all of them if given permission can contact his family for him.
I do believe that there are a few totally plausible scenarios in this case. Unfortunately they are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum and that makes a case really hard to work for all involved. It also makes it even harder for the family because it is a constant roller coaster ride.