Charges unlikely in watercraft fatality<br />By TRUDI GILFILLIAN Staff Writer, (609) 463-6716, E-Mail<br /><br />WILDWOOD - A State Police spokesman said Wednesday no one is expected to face criminal charges in the personal-watercraft accident that killed a 14-year-old Philadelphia boy.<br /><br />John P. Lord Jr. died of a broken neck Monday after the personal watercraft he was a passenger on collided with a second watercraft reportedly being operated by the boy's 15-year-old sister, Colleen. <br /><br />The accident happened in the bay at Post Creek Basin where Wildwood and Middle Township meet.<br /><br />"At this time it doesn't appear there will be any charges filed," State Police Sgt. Gerald Lewis said.<br /><br />An autopsy found the manner of death to be accidental and the cause to be blunt-force trauma to the upper body and head, specifically a fractured neck.<br /><br />State Police said the two watercraft involved in the accident were privately owned, and the names of the owners would not be released. <br /><br />"The families have been through enough," Lewis said.<br /><br />The children riding the watercraft that day were from several families.<br /><br />The operator of the watercraft ridden by Lord was a 15-year-old boy from Bensalem, Pa. Both 15-year-olds had completed an eight-hour safety course and may have believed that was all that was required to operate the watercraft, State Police said.<br /><br />Personal watercraft operators In New Jersey must be at least 16 years old and have completed a boating safety course and have a boating safety certificate with them at all times.<br /><br />A funeral is planned for Lord on Friday in Philadelphia. <br /><br />__________________________________________________<br /><br />When are parents going to realize these things are not TOYS 
<br /><br />And they need to be treated with the same respect as any other moving vehicle if not more so because the rule on the water tend to be a shade of gray not black and white.
<br /><br />And they need to be treated with the same respect as any other moving vehicle if not more so because the rule on the water tend to be a shade of gray not black and white.
