Silver Owl
03-22-2005, 05:20 PM
Teens tape daredevil stunt
Norton boy, 17, `surfs' highway at 65 mph; police press charges
By Gina Mace
Special to the Beacon Journal
NORTON - The scenes could have been lifted from a Hollywood movie.
As the truck zips down the interstate, a teenage boy climbs from the truck's bed, holds onto the tailgate, lowers his feet onto the roadway and begins surfing the highway -- at 65 miles per hour.
But it wasn't part of a blockbuster action film -- it was a homemade video of a 17-year-old Norton boy ``street surfing'' off the back of the truck as a friend filmed the stunt from a nearby car.
Only his shoes were between his feet and the highway.
Three motorists on Interstate 76 called 911 on March 17 when they saw the teen's highway antics.
Now the tape is in the custody of the Norton police, and the truck's 17-year-old alleged driver and his daredevil friend face charges in juvenile court.
Police charged the driver with three counts of reckless operation, one count of obstructing and three counts of allowing a person to ride on the outside of a vehicle.
The so-called ``surfer'' was charged with three counts of riding on the outside of a vehicle and one count of obstructing.
Police Chief Greg Carris shook his head when he spoke of the boys' actions.
``We'd be investigating a fatality if he had lost his grip at the speed they were going,'' Carris said.
Reached by phone Monday, the father of the alleged driver said he is outraged by the stunt.
``I don't want other kids trying this and getting in trouble or getting killed,'' he said.
He said his son denies driving the truck or being involved in the incident in any way.
But, he said, his son is being punished nonetheless.
``I'm taking away privileges. I'm taking every type of recreation out of his room,'' he said. ``I'm selling his dirt bike, and I may go as far as selling his vehicle.''
He said his son is upset because he feels that the juvenile court will punish him, too.
``Punishment has to start at home,'' the father said.
The fathers of both teens said they hope police will not release the video to media.
``I know how these kids are,'' the father of the alleged driver said. ``If it's exploited, I think there will be other teens who will try it.''
The video begins with the green Ford F-150 driving down Roop Avenue, with the surfer laying on the hood.
The next scene shows the truck traveling east on I-76 with the smiling surfer -- wearing a lime-green headband, a shirt and dark-colored pants cut off below the knee -- as he ``surfs'' off the back of the truck, doing splits and other tricks, then climbing back into the truck.
The third scene shows the truck heading west on I-76, as the surfer crawls out of the back of the truck again. This time his tricks are more dangerous. He lets go with one hand, turns towards the camera, grabs his crotch and flashes a peace sign.
He then climbs back into the truck bed, letting the wind hold him against the gate in a Titanic-like ``king of the world'' pose, until he falls into the truck bed.
Police estimate the truck traveled a quarter- to a half-mile in each direction, as the teen ``surfed'' the street.
``This goes beyond stupidity,'' Lt. Thad Hete said. ``Consider the motorist behind him who could have witnessed him falling, or worse, run over him if he fell.''
WHY? WHY? WHY?
Thats all I can say.
Norton boy, 17, `surfs' highway at 65 mph; police press charges
By Gina Mace
Special to the Beacon Journal
NORTON - The scenes could have been lifted from a Hollywood movie.
As the truck zips down the interstate, a teenage boy climbs from the truck's bed, holds onto the tailgate, lowers his feet onto the roadway and begins surfing the highway -- at 65 miles per hour.
But it wasn't part of a blockbuster action film -- it was a homemade video of a 17-year-old Norton boy ``street surfing'' off the back of the truck as a friend filmed the stunt from a nearby car.
Only his shoes were between his feet and the highway.
Three motorists on Interstate 76 called 911 on March 17 when they saw the teen's highway antics.
Now the tape is in the custody of the Norton police, and the truck's 17-year-old alleged driver and his daredevil friend face charges in juvenile court.
Police charged the driver with three counts of reckless operation, one count of obstructing and three counts of allowing a person to ride on the outside of a vehicle.
The so-called ``surfer'' was charged with three counts of riding on the outside of a vehicle and one count of obstructing.
Police Chief Greg Carris shook his head when he spoke of the boys' actions.
``We'd be investigating a fatality if he had lost his grip at the speed they were going,'' Carris said.
Reached by phone Monday, the father of the alleged driver said he is outraged by the stunt.
``I don't want other kids trying this and getting in trouble or getting killed,'' he said.
He said his son denies driving the truck or being involved in the incident in any way.
But, he said, his son is being punished nonetheless.
``I'm taking away privileges. I'm taking every type of recreation out of his room,'' he said. ``I'm selling his dirt bike, and I may go as far as selling his vehicle.''
He said his son is upset because he feels that the juvenile court will punish him, too.
``Punishment has to start at home,'' the father said.
The fathers of both teens said they hope police will not release the video to media.
``I know how these kids are,'' the father of the alleged driver said. ``If it's exploited, I think there will be other teens who will try it.''
The video begins with the green Ford F-150 driving down Roop Avenue, with the surfer laying on the hood.
The next scene shows the truck traveling east on I-76 with the smiling surfer -- wearing a lime-green headband, a shirt and dark-colored pants cut off below the knee -- as he ``surfs'' off the back of the truck, doing splits and other tricks, then climbing back into the truck.
The third scene shows the truck heading west on I-76, as the surfer crawls out of the back of the truck again. This time his tricks are more dangerous. He lets go with one hand, turns towards the camera, grabs his crotch and flashes a peace sign.
He then climbs back into the truck bed, letting the wind hold him against the gate in a Titanic-like ``king of the world'' pose, until he falls into the truck bed.
Police estimate the truck traveled a quarter- to a half-mile in each direction, as the teen ``surfed'' the street.
``This goes beyond stupidity,'' Lt. Thad Hete said. ``Consider the motorist behind him who could have witnessed him falling, or worse, run over him if he fell.''
WHY? WHY? WHY?
Thats all I can say.