A Concord family who lost its son in an accident is calling for a change in state law. 

Last month, 17-year-old Joshua Stanish had his license suspended for speeding, but less than five hours later he was back in the car.  

That’s when police said he ran a red light near Concord Mills Mall and tried to speed away from officers.  They said he caused an accident that killed him and sent a family to the hospital.

"It's been very difficult. The transition is hard," said Joseph Stanish, the teen’s father.

He said the same day of his son's deadly accident, Joshua Stanish had been arrested for speeding, and his license was suspended based on a new state law.

The law targets minors who speed excessively.

Joseph Stanish went to pick up his son from the courthouse. Under the law, he had to sign a release form, but he said his son never told him about his suspended license. No one else did either, he added.

"There was no discussion of his license being suspended. There was no indication of anything out of the ordinary," Joseph Stanish said.

Troopers said the law even allowed Joshua Stanish to keep his physical license. He was simply warned not to drive.

Troopers said that is a huge flaw in the legislation.

"That's one of the things we're looking into, going back to our legislators and presenting these issues and maybe see if they can be amended," said Trooper Shane Furr with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Not knowing what had happened, Joseph Stanish allowed his son to drive, but he said if he had known about the suspended license, his son might be alive today.

"He wouldn't have driven that day, I can guarantee it," Stanish said.

The Stanish family said it supports changes to the law. Troopers did not say when they would ask legislators to make those changes.  

Law enforcement officials said the Stanish family will not be charged in their son's accident.