Hampton woman killed in boating accident

What a shame. What did they do, let this kid steer unsupervised? This family will be shattered forever; mom gone and the little kid knowing he was the cause..... I do not think it could get worse.

So sorry to hear this we are a great family, GOD BLESS YOU : Sam in Florida, Port Charlotte. LOVE YOU GUYS. Need anything call me or mom:Sue

It's a shame that one seconds stupid decision with a child will impact this child forever. Yeah the parents are gone - but the child will live on with the guilt forever. Be a parent, not a friend.

Yes what nannieB and Driver said. More sadness.

Words fail at the thought of this thing. You have my sympathy, I hope other parents are taking note.

7 years old???? Were the adults drinking and or intoxicated? What a shame that because of SOMEONES IGNORANCE a person had to die. My sympathy to the family.

Your new people need to get their fact right. Boating safety education is required for any personal watercraft (PWC) operator age 14 or 15. These operators must carry proof of successful completion of the safety course at all times while operating the PWC and show this proof upon request by a law enforcement officer. PWC operators may complete either non-proctored or proctored NASBLA approved boating safety courses for certification.
Children under the age of 14 are not permitted to operate a PWC.
PWC operators 16 and older are not required to take a boating safety course. However, the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries (DGIF) encourages all boaters to enroll and complete a boating safety course. The DGIF supports NASBLA approved boating courses such as the free BoatU.S. Online Safety Course and others. Information on a classroom course near you can be found by calling DGIF at 800-245-2628 or the BoatU.S. Course Locator line at 800-336-2628.
Source(s):
http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/statelaws/...

Sam bolien wrote:

So sorry to hear this we are a great family, GOD BLESS YOU : Sam in Florida, Port Charlotte. LOVE YOU GUYS. Need anything call me or mom:Sue

I was beth best fried over here in E-Town. She called me from the dock, to wish me a happy 4th. I am heartbroken and all my sympathy goes out to her family,esp. David Sr. and David jr.
I am missing her soo much.!!

We were not on the boat, so we all do not know what really happened !!!
I understand all of your comments, but I ""KNEW"" her and she was the best.
The loss is terrible and David has to grow up, without a great parent !!

Never should have happened. The owner is 100% at fault. I heard there 5 people on the boat(ages were not mentioned). GOD, its so sad and so stupid.

Rattler, how was the owner at fault when everyone else on the boat was allowing it to happen, and he was being assisted? This could have happened to anyone operating that boat. It's not just because the child was young. Even the mother and grandmother on the boat were allowing it.

Never let a good tragedy go to waste.

Honestly people, do you feel so badly about your own miserable little lives that you can't resist the opportunity to bash someone else to make yourselves feel better?

I would think the facts of this tragedy would alone serve as example enough, without some of you tripping over yourselves to share your pointless 'wisdom', disdain and judgment about what should have or not have been done.

My sympathies go out to this poor child and his family.

Try not to judge these folks, you are only needlessly adding to their misery. You don't need to load up on them and posture beside them to prop your self up. When you do this you look really shabby, if you must know.

I say, take what lessons you may from this, so that it doesn't happen again. Don't judge, bad things come from judging.

michellephq13 wrote:

Rattler, how was the owner at fault when everyone else on the boat was allowing it to happen, and he was being assisted? This could have happened to anyone operating that boat. It's not just because the child was young. Even the mother and grandmother on the boat were allowing it.

Read the rules of owning and opperating a boat. Owner was on board, HE/SHE is capitan and in charge. Fun and good intensions aside.? Was drinking involved? This is not on the child. Its on the ADULTS on the boat. I drink at home, but never when driving/boating/fishing. Its still sad and totally showd not have happened. CAPT/OWNER 100% at fault.

Its really easy to point fingers, say who was wrong, make judgment but the fact of the matter is this was a terrible tragedy. There is no changing what happened, nothing anyone says is going to bring back Beth. Beth was an amazing person, so protective, so careful. She always lived safe.
Anyone not involved please stop making accusations. This is hard enough on our family. No judgment, take this as a tough lesson for so many people. If you weren't on the boat, you really don't know what happened.
The news said that Beth was a 35 yr old from Hampton.... That information was not correct so let's try and keep the judgment to a minimum and know that our family is mourning a terrible loss.

still think of you guys sending my love.