Skateboarder Killed In Collision

A 12-year-old Beckley boy is dead after a skateboarding accident involving a West Virginia State Police cruiser.

[Amother]

I just want to know if anyone out there other than me thinks this is a crime?

[Amy]

Well one thing for sure, it is a true tragedy for all parties involved. It is a crime if the State Trooper shows signs of neglect for the cause of the accident. There isn't much being told about the story yet. I guess it is still under investigation. But if it were a pure accident, don't you think he will be suffering enough for the rest of his life? We all make mistakes. But, again, we do not know the details of the reasons for the accident. I wouldn't pass judgment until they come out. All parties involved are in my prayers. Such a tragedy.

[Dalia]

Yeah, it is a crime that the boy was not at home under the supervision of his parents or some other responsible adult at that hour. Please do not blame this office, I am sure he is going through his own private hell right now and does not need others pointing fingers at him and trying to blame him for something that no doubt was an ACCIDENT. Anyone could have been in his shoes at that moment...put yourself there...would you want to be under such scrutiny without all of the facts being known?? I think not. We owe it to this officer, his family AND anyone else involved to keep our "suspicions" under wrap until a full investigation has been done.

[Mountain-eer]

Crime against which party? I don't understand your question...

Tragedy on all sides.. sad

[Amother]

Amy wrote:

Well one thing for sure, it is a true tragedy for all parties involved. It is a crime if the State Trooper shows signs of neglect for the cause of the accident. There isn't much being told about the story yet. I guess it is still under investigation. But if it were a pure accident, don't you think he will be suffering enough for the rest of his life? We all make mistakes. But, again, we do not know the details of the reasons for the accident. I wouldn't pass judgment until they come out. All parties involved are in my prayers. Such a tragedy.

I do think it is a tragedy on all parties but as a mother I still believe if anyone hit my child I would want something to be done about it. I just wonder if a true investigation is being done or if it is just this troopers buddies doing it? I suppose it could be an accident, but in the same sense if I were to wreck and hit another car today even by accident that is still considered as "failure to maintain control" now if I killed a person in that accident they would have my butt under the jail instead of in it!!! And no I don't have anything against the police and have never been in trouble with the law I just don't think they should get any treatment that we as common citizens would not get. I am not saying that he just purposely hit this child but there almost had to be some factor other than the child should not have been out that late.

[Amother]

Just so you all know I do believe that this child should have been home as well!

[Josienwv]

Amother wrote:

Just so you all know I do believe that this child should have been home as well!

I agree... I do feel sorry for the mother and family because I would lose my mind...

[Ace]

The child came off of the hill at Harts cabinets and rode in front of the Trooper. I feel for all parties involved but by no means was this any more than a horrible ACCIDENT. It could have been any one of us traveling south on RT 16.

[Amy]

Yes, that is the scary thing. Any one of us could have been the driver of that car. It makes me shudder to think of a horrible tragedy. Everyone lost in this. Everyone! And, I agree. I do not think that the SP should get any special treatment if indeed it was his fault completely. But there are so many "ifs" in this case and we don't know 1/4 of what has happened. We just need to keep all of them involved our prayers. It could go either way - 1) Why was the child out so late at night unsupervised? and then 2) Why didn't the SP have control over his vehicle? We could ask ourselves these and many more questions but we will not know anything until they let out all of the details of the investigation. Again, such tragedy. And it scares me to death and saddens me to no end to think of that being my child OR me driving that car. God be with all of them!

[Stan]

That would be like asking someone that just hit a deer or a racoon why he didn't have control of his vehicle. It was midnight.

[Absolutely]

Stan wrote:

That would be like asking someone that just hit a deer or a racoon why he didn't have control of his vehicle. It was midnight.

I totally agree---well said. And I have to agree with most of you, I do not think it is a fault or a time to point fingers, but I cannot help but ask why he was not home at midnight or at least under parental supervision. That road is no place for children of any age...skateboard, bicycle, or walking. It is just way too dangerous. My daughter attended school and was friends with this child, we do not know the family, but we attended the services for him. It has been a tragedy for all of his friends as well, and there has been many parents (myself included) that have had a hard last few days dealing with the grief of all of these kids. As a mother, I cannot imagine what this child's mother is going thru. My heart breaks for the family as well as the trooper and all else involved.

[AFather]

Ummm, there's a difference between a raccoon or a deer and a human being. If your going to hit a raccoon, sometimes its better to just hit it so you don't kill yourself or hit on coming traffic. A human being requires a little more thought. Understood that this child should have been supervised at this time of night but it is the troopers JOB to be a professional at what he does, that includes driving. Either way, he should be charged with involuntary vehicular manslaughter. SP enforce our laws, at what they claim "a high standard" and should be held to the same standard when a wrong has been done, accident or not. I feel for everyone involved.

[Stan]

AFather wrote:

Ummm, there's a difference between a raccoon or a deer and a human being. If your going to hit a raccoon, sometimes its better to just hit it so you don't kill yourself or hit on coming traffic. A human being requires a little more thought. Understood that this child should have been supervised at this time of night but it is the troopers JOB to be a professional at what he does, that includes driving. Either way, he should be charged with involuntary vehicular manslaughter. SP enforce our laws, at what they claim "a high standard" and should be held to the same standard when a wrong has been done, accident or not. I feel for everyone involved.

I'm AFather also. But I also know that a deer hit me and I saw it coming, there was absolutely nothing I could, nothing, and it was daylight, not dark at midnight. I guess you or nobody you know has ever had anything run out in front of you/them and not been able to stop. I think that everyone in WV at least knows someone that has hit something.

[AFather]

Stan wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm AFather also. But I also know that a deer hit me and I saw it coming, there was absolutely nothing I could, nothing, and it was daylight, not dark at midnight. I guess you or nobody you know has ever had anything run out in front of you/them and not been able to stop. I think that everyone in WV at least knows someone that has hit something.

I have had plenty of things run in front of me including two deer. I was able to avoid one but had to hit the second one, otherwise, I would have hit a tree. In the time that I saw the deer, I had to make a decision, my life or the deer's. If I am ever in the situation as described above, especially if it is a child, I would be willing to risk my life, more so, before taking another. I do understand that sometimes things just happen so fast and for the typical driver, things just cant be avoided. This is why hundreds of thousands of our tax paying dollars go to training police officers on how to be on the defense while on the public streets and to keep even more detailed attention to the happenings around them while on the clock. I think that the situations that police officers are placed under are stressful and confusing and that plays a part in things of this nature as well. For instance, the public is told not to drive while talking on the cell phone because it is part of the number one reason for fender benders. Police Officers have full blown laptops, cell phones, extra buttons for lights and such, a cb radio in their car and on their hip etc..... The list goes on and on. Thus the reason for the expensive tax paid defensive driving courses.

BTW, I live in WV as well. My family was raised in Beckley working in the mines and then spent my teenage years in Berkeley Springs and finally settled with my family in Capon Bridge. I have had quite a variety of animals run out in front of me.

[Jackson]

This discussion could go on forever about one's driving ability. No one was there except the trooper and the child, so we do not know all the circumstances.

[CityGirlGoneCoun try]

AFather wrote:

<quoted text>
For instance, the public is told not to drive while talking on the cell phone because it is part of the number one reason for fender benders. Police Officers have full blown laptops, cell phones, extra buttons for lights and such, a cb radio in their car and on their hip etc..... The list goes on and on. Thus the reason for the expensive tax paid defensive driving courses.

With that said, did the possibility cross your mind that the officer was looking at any of the mentioned items or answering his radio, perhaps getting ready to flip one of those switches? Yes he was a trained professional but have some sympathy for him as well. There are instances of trained people having accidents all the time. From a cashier entering the wrong amount to a soldier causing friendly fire. This is real life. In a perfect world that officer would have been able to do something different, but in the same respect in a perfect world that child would have been home tucked into bed at that hour. This world is not perfect and nor are we who live in it.

I am pretty confident when I say I am sure he would have changed the outcome if he could have. If you are even concerned I have heard from many that he is in a very bad way emotionally since this has happened. This was one of those tragic moments where nobody wins. The family has lost a precious young boy they love and like the family, the officer has to live with this nightmare for the rest of his life as well.

[YOUR STUPID]

AFather wrote:

Ummm, there's a difference between a raccoon or a deer and a human being. If your going to hit a raccoon, sometimes its better to just hit it so you don't kill yourself or hit on coming traffic. A human being requires a little more thought. Understood that this child should have been supervised at this time of night but it is the troopers JOB to be a professional at what he does, that includes driving. Either way, he should be charged with involuntary vehicular manslaughter. SP enforce our laws, at what they claim "a high standard" and should be held to the same standard when a wrong has been done, accident or not. I feel for everyone involved.

You know it is people like you that have no perception of reality. You are the kind that will be the first to point the finger but when your wrong you will blend in to the background. I am someone who has first hand knowledge of this accident and investigation. The child was caught on Wal Mart video playing in traffic long before the accident. Now with that said the trooper never seen the child coming because it was dark and the child was wearing dark clothes and the child struck the vehicle on the very front corner. Morons like you should keep your mouth shut until you know all the facts. Trooper Stone is a great guy and you have no right degrading him on this site. If you think you can do such a better job then apply, pass the physical then the physical agility test, then the psych. eval. and then the interview board and if you pass all that. then spend your time in the academy. It is funny how jealousy will drive people to say and do the things they do. I will say this, I would never wish such a terriable thing on my worst enemy. So may god help you if you would ever strike another human with a vehicle and you should have to eat your malicious words.

[Amen]

YOUR STUPID wrote:

<quoted text>You know it is people like you that have no perception of reality. You are the kind that will be the first to point the finger but when your wrong you will blend in to the background. I am someone who has first hand knowledge of this accident and investigation. The child was caught on Wal Mart video playing in traffic long before the accident. Now with that said the trooper never seen the child coming because it was dark and the child was wearing dark clothes and the child struck the vehicle on the very front corner. Morons like you should keep your mouth shut until you know all the facts. Trooper Stone is a great guy and you have no right degrading him on this site. If you think you can do such a better job then apply, pass the physical then the physical agility test, then the psych. eval. and then the interview board and if you pass all that. then spend your time in the academy. It is funny how jealousy will drive people to say and do the things they do. I will say this, I would never wish such a terriable thing on my worst enemy. So may god help you if you would ever strike another human with a vehicle and you should have to eat your malicious words.

Amen

[Mike9175]

Tragedy! I work for the local EMS services. If you check back, there have upwards of 10 to 15 pedestrians that have been hit by vehicles, in the same exact area over the past 4 years. And this was definitely not the first fatality! The lighting in the area is "extremely poor"...especially for the pedestrian traffic crossing the roadway in that area. I understand it is a drivers responsibility to be alert and aware, but something needs to be done to prevent further tragedies. Walking locals also need to be aware of visibility issues for drivers, and try to be a little more cautious.

[Mountain-eer]

YOUR STUPID wrote:

<quoted text>You know it is people like you that have no perception of reality. You are the kind that will be the first to point the finger but when your wrong you will blend in to the background. I am someone who has first hand knowledge of this accident and investigation. The child was caught on Wal Mart video playing in traffic long before the accident. Now with that said the trooper never seen the child coming because it was dark and the child was wearing dark clothes and the child struck the vehicle on the very front corner. Morons like you should keep your mouth shut until you know all the facts. Trooper Stone is a great guy and you have no right degrading him on this site. If you think you can do such a better job then apply, pass the physical then the physical agility test, then the psych. eval. and then the interview board and if you pass all that. then spend your time in the academy. It is funny how jealousy will drive people to say and do the things they do. I will say this, I would never wish such a terriable thing on my worst enemy. So may god help you if you would ever strike another human with a vehicle and you should have to eat your malicious words.

Well spoken.