by The Editors on December 15, 2010
The driver of the car which towed skateboarder Willy Tracy, 17, to his death in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada on June 12, 2010, went on trial this morning and is charged with “criminal negligence,” according to a story The News.
“On June 12, 2010, a person – Willy Tracy – was on a skateboard and he grabbed onto a motor vehicle, a Rav Four, on Willow Street, New Glasgow,” Pink said, adding that the car was being driven by his client. . . “Mr. Tracy fell while he had a hold of the Rav Four, and suffered multiple injuries which resulted in his death.”
Skateboard towing sucks for everyone involved.
[Link: The News]
by The Editors on November 15, 2010
So this 14-year-old kid from Suffolk, Virginia was towing behind a car on his skateboard and guess what happened? Can you believe this? He fell and his head hit the pavement. Now he’s in the hospital with serious head injuries, according to a story in the Suffolk News Herald.
George said in a press release that the teen sustained head injuries when his head hit the pavement as he fell from the skateboard. He was transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. His condition was unavailable on Sunday night. . . The vehicle was being operated by a 17-year-old male at the time of the accident.
And another one goes down.
[Link: Suffolk News Herald]
by The Editors on October 20, 2010
Seth Coombes, a Exeter University student who towed behind his friend’s car at 27 MPH without dying or getting injured, has apologized for his crimes against humanity, according to a story in the Cambridge News.
“I apologise to any people I may have endangered with my actions and I would like to say that in the circumstances of my life I act with responsibility and care for others.”
Driver Gordon Pottinger was equally apologetic.
“I would like to say how deeply I regret my actions on the day in question. I was foolish, immature, and I’m ashamed. . . “My behaviour was unprecedented – in my driving career of three years I have not been convicted of any driving offence.”
He’s ashamed. And that’s how they handle towing criminals at Cambridge.
[Link: Cambridge News]
by The Editors on October 4, 2010
A 23-year-old skateboarder who was reportedly towing “on to the back door of a four-wheel-drive” fell under the car and was dragged along the street in Torquay, Australia around 6 PM October 4, 2010, according to a story in the Herald Sun.
He was struck by a rear wheel and suffered head, lung and rib injuries. . . The injured skateboarder was taken to the Geelong Hospital and later flown by air ambulance to the Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Which reminds us. Check out this rad promo photo for Sabre.
[Link: Herald Sun]
by The Editors on August 4, 2010
Alexander Baer, a 17-year-old skateboarder from McHenry County, Illinois, died last Thursday, July 29, 2010 from head injuries he sustained from a fall while reportedly towing on his skateboard behind a car according to the Chicago Sun Times.
An autopsy on Saturday found Baer died of craniocerebral injuries from a fall from a skateboard and his death was ruled an accident, the medical examiner’s office said. . . Baer was near his home Tuesday at 3:50 p.m. on a skateboard being pulled by some type of rope attached to a vehicle, according to a release from the McHenry County Sheriff’s office.
Towing continues to kill unrestrained. . . and yet skate video continue to feature it. Strange, huh?
[Link: Chicago Sun-Times]
by The Editors on July 3, 2010
On June 12, 2010 a 17-year-old Nova Scotia skateboarder allegedly grabbed on to the side of Toyota RAV 4 towing along while another 17-year-old was behind the wheel. Now, nearly a month later one teen is dead (the skateboarder died on June 23, 2010 from serious head injuries) and another is charged with criminal negligence, according to a story on CBC.ca.
“We know that the person that was on the skateboard was somehow clinging on to the vehicle and at some point in time an incident took place and the person on the skateboard must have fallen,” MacDonald said Friday.
After all this it is amazing to us that skateboarding videos still show skaters getting towed into things.
[Link: CBC.CA]
by The Editors on June 4, 2010
A 17-year-old skateboarder died from injuries he suffered while towing behind a truck Thrusday, June 3, 2010 in Northwest Regina, Saskatchewan, according to a story on Global TV Edmonton.
Around 10 p.m. Regina police responded to a call about a 17-year-old male who was receiving emergency medical treatment after falling from a skateboard. The incident happened on Wadge Street and Wellband Drive. . . A preliminary police investigation indicates the teen was holding onto or being towed by a vehicle before he fell. The act is known at “skitching”.
Our thoughts are with the skateboarders family and friends. But seriously, how many kids have to die?
[Link: Global TV Edmonton]
by The Editors on May 19, 2009
Timothy W. Melvin, 39, of central Illinois has been sentenced to “60 days in jail and 18 months probation for running over his 12-year-old son while towing the boy on a skateboard,” according to a story in the Herald & Review.
Testifying at his sentencing hearing, Melvin said he did not realize when he entered his guilty plea that he was admitting he knew he was towing his son through Fairview Park as the boy hung on to a side window of his car. He said he believed the plea was for not requiring Zachary to wear a helmet as he skateboarded in the park.
Seems like the death of his son Zachary R. Melvin would be enough punishment, but Timothy’s seven prior convictions for various offenses would suggest that Melvin is not a quick learner.
[Link: Herald & Review via Chicago Tribune]
by The Editors on February 25, 2009
Sadly, another skateboarder (who was hanging on to the side of his friends car and then leg go) was run over and hospitalized this week. This time it was in Denver.
Authorities believe the victim was holding the driver’s side door of a Ford Mustang while his 16-year-old companion was driving the car westbound on 85th Avenue. . . . Police are investigating how fast the Mustang was going and why the teen let go of the door just before he was struck by the car.
Apparently, the Denver Police don’t know that this scene plays out over and over and over again.
[Update Feb. 26, 2009: 9news.com is reporting that 15-year-old Austin Ayers has now died from his injuries. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.]
[Link: Denver Post]
by The Editors on October 7, 2008
Austin Ayers, 17, has died of injuries he sustained Sunday after grabbing on to the passenger window of a passing car and towing along.
Arvada Police believe the teen was riding his long board in the southbound bike lane on Oak Street, when he grabbed onto the passenger side front door or window of a Jeep Wrangler. Investigators say when the teen let go, another vehicle hit him and he hit the pavement.
[Link: 9 News]
