Car Surfing Deaths: Teens Ignore Dangers
Ever been surfing? Even been car surfing?
Car surfing deaths are suddenly a hot topic in the media. If you haven't heard of it, car surfing is an act where people ride on top or beside their vehicles for thrills and excitement. Car surfing videos are popular on YouTube.
Of course the activity is incredibly foolish and dangerous. People have already been killed participating, Gather.com reports.
Sometimes car surfers take it up another level by car surfing and ghost riding at the same time. In other words, whereas with "traditional car surfing" one person drives while the other surfs the car, ghost riders surf their own car without a driver. It certainly seems like a short path to a Darwin award.
Just last week two teens died in a car surfing incident in DeBary, Florida. The teens were car surfing on the exterior of an SUV and were standing on the running boards when the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Upon impact, the vehicle burst into flames and killed the two teens, whose names have not been released.
Even if you aren't the one doing the car surfing or ghost riding, getting involved in any way can put your life at risk. Take Michael A. Smith, 26, who was convicted of vehicular homicide after driving a car during a car surfing incident. His teenage friend, Cameron Bieberle, died in an accident during their car surfing. Smith was sentenced to four years in prison, the Associated Press reports.
Vehicular homicide is homicide committed by the use of a vehicle. Homicide is defined as killing someone with a criminal state of mind (intentionally, with premeditation, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence). No matter how you define it, vehicular homicide is a massive, life changing offense.
So if you really want to surf, find an ocean.
Related Resources:
- Teens ignore the dangers of car surfing (MSNBC)
- What does it mean if I have been charged with an "attempt"?(FindLaw)
- Homicide (FindLaw)