Do you let your kids run PWCs? You probably shouldn't!
 

Associated Press

March 28, 2005, 6:33 AM EST

WEST PALM BEACH -- A personal watercraft carrying two teenagers turned
into the path of a speedboat, killing a 14-year-old girl and injuring a
15-year-old girl, authorities said.

Three people saw the collision Easter Sunday from a boat ramp on the
Intracoastal Waterway. A passenger on the 31-foot boat and a dock worker
said the boat tried to avoid the collision at Currie Park, but the
girls were run over.

The victim died at St. Mary's Medical Center, said state wildlife
commission spokesman Jorge Pino. Her 15-year-old companion was in critical
condition but was expected to survive. Their names were not released.

Five friends were on the boat driven by Steve Arant, 33. A passenger
said he was thrown against the side when Arant swerved sharply trying to
avoid the teenagers.

The passenger said he jumped in when he saw a bloody girl without a
life jacket floating in the water. She complained she couldn't breathe,
and he reassured her that she would be all right.

The crushed watercraft was registered to a private owner in West Palm
Beach. Its steering column was flattened, and its rear seat cushion was
ripped away.

Florida law requires children to be at least 14 to operate a personal
watercraft. Anyone 21 or younger must complete a boating education
course before operating a personal watercraft.

The younger girl was wearing a life vest, but the older girl was not.
Life vests must be worn by all personal watercraft operators and
passengers under state law.

Copyright (c) 2005, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

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I have never been a PWC fan... I always have a bad feeling when I see young kids riding them...
I've come VERY close to colliding with several of them.Even the older operatiors are very irresponsible and not using their heads.
We have a nice beach here on the Biscayne Bay..It's known as Monument island. The entire area is getting over run by PWCs. The local law enforcement does very little to keep them at bay.
I was unfortuante to come to throwing fists at one of them! :eek:

I'm not so worried about them hurting themselves.. I'm concerned that they will hit me or my boat!

Re: Do you let your kids run PWCs? You probably shouldn't!
 

This is a tragedy for everyone involved.

Re: Do you let your kids run PWCs? You probably shouldn't!
 

And the guy driving the boats life is now ruined along with the family of the girls. Sad day for all involved. Little bit of fun can turn out to be a life altering experience for everyong.

Jon

Re: Do you let your kids run PWCs? You probably shouldn't!
 

My first thought, too.

Even if it wasn't his fault that's gonna screw him up.

Re: Do you let your kids run PWCs? You probably shouldn't!
 

I have come close to hitting those many times. It's not just the kids, though. It doesn't matter what the age of the operator is. If they are uneducated they are dangerous. I can't believe an insurance company will write a policy for a rental company these days. Those things are just bad news.

Re: Do you let your kids run PWCs? You probably shouldn't!
 

I hate hearing this.... very sad. I know another board member who had some drunk try to ruin his life a few years back.

Re: Do you let your kids run PWCs? You probably shouldn't!
 

I "USED" to have a couple of PWC's. A Tigershark and a Yamaha.

My daughter, 16 at the time, was out on the Tigershark, and some kids came up and started doing donuts on one around her. They turned too sharp and ran into the side of the Tigershark, missing her leg by about two inches. It caved in the side of the thing. The kids took off. They didn't even check to see if my daughter was OK or not. She was pretty bruised up, but luckily, was OK.

I had it fixed, and then sold both of them. Don't need em.

I have almost hit them many times too, in the boat. I slow down, because most never look when they turn.
===
I do feel very sorry for those involved above.
Kent

Re: Do you let your kids run PWCs? You probably shouldn't!
 

I took a girl out on mine a couple years ago...I let her drive seeing as she has driven them before. A boat came at us head on at a narrow part of the river, she panicked and froze but kept on the throttle, I had to grab the wheel and cut it hard to avoid the boat, it barely missed us...she said she was totally in control, yeah right. Thats the last time a girl ever drove anything of mine...no offense to the great women of OSO.

Re: Do you let your kids run PWCs? You probably shouldn't!
 

Sad.

But even sadder, this is the first of many this year.

:(

Re: Do you let your kids run PWCs? You probably shouldn't!
 

why people don't understand the meaning of "lifejacket"