13 years old. I live on the Colorado River. One side is Nevada, the other side is Arizona. The part I live on is a very well-known family vacation spot. People are dying every weekend because of these jet skis. Now, I have nothing against jet skis, I think they're fun, IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DRIVE THEM. I see kids as young as 10 on these things and on a river that's a quarter mile wide, you get a bunch of weekend jet skiers, mix that with boats, fisherman, swimmers and BOOZE and people are gonna die. I'm looking out my window right now and seeing these things go by and ridiculous speeds. There are laws, they just don't enforce them. They rent to anyone and they don't even give them instructions. It's crazy.
Wow...I hate these cases where there's no satisfaction in justice...
good
What kind of upbringing did this little sh!t have that his furst impulse was to leave instead of offer help?
What might have been a tragic accident is now going to ruin his life.
Another Kennedy?
I wonder if the snorkelers were flying a dive flag either on their boat or on a float? Not that you'd expect a 13 year old without a boater's safety course to be able to recognize it and react accordingly...
Very sad & tragic...but I'd cut the 13 y.o. a little slack. He probably panicked and headed for the only safe haven he could think of - mom and dad. Granted, that was not the "best" choice, but understandable given his age. I remember being his age and throwing a rock and hitting a classmate and before I even quite knew what I was doing, I had run home in a panic(scared s***less of my teacher). My folks made me do the right thing. I hope his folks do too.
This sounds like a 14 foot boat with an outboard motor, driven by an inexperienced driver, who let the boat get out of control. I can't believe the kid maliciously rammed another boat, and he clearly didn't see the swimmer.
Had his parents allowed him to use it? Had they encouraged it? Does he have any history of being a kid who is reckless and dangerous, or not? Was he using alcohol or drugs?
The answers will help determine the extent to which he should be held culpable and the extent to which his parents have been.