Family of boy, 10, sues Boy Scouts for $10M after he died in tragic jet ski crash
The parents of a 10-year-old boy who died in a tragic jet ski accident at a Boy Scout summer camp are suing the organization’s regional chapter, seeking $10 million.
Crystalyn and Xson Gear filed the lawsuit after their son Jack Gear was killed on July 16 while riding a Sea-Doo jet ski with a 19-year-old female camp employee.
Jack’s parents had dropped him off two days earlier at a camp on the Boxwell Reservation, which is about 35 miles northeast of Nashville.
On the day of the incident, Jack and the other campers were participating in water sports on Old Hickory Lake, which is located on the Boxwell Reservation.
Once they were on the water, another Boy Scouts jet ski collided with Jack’s “at a high rate of speed,” according to the lawsuit filed against the Middle Tennessee Council for the Boy Scouts of America.
Jack Gear was only 10 years old when he died this summer in a tragic jet ski accident while enrolled at a Boy Scout summer camp.
Jack, pictured between his father and mother, is also survived by his two siblings
The force of the impact killed Jack and seriously injured the driver of the jet ski he was on.
The other jet ski involved in the crash also had an adult and a child on it, but neither was injured, the complaint said.
The lawsuit, filed on August 30, alleges that one or both of the adult drivers acted recklessly and negligently considering the campers were in their care.
It is further alleged that a 2017 Sea Doo jet ski was the specific vessel that struck Jack, who was on a 2015 Sea Doo.
The lawsuit doesn’t say which specific model was involved in the crash, but a 2017 SPARK TRIXX Sea Doo weighs 420 pounds and can reach a top speed of 50 mph, according to the owner’s manual.
The US Coast Guard It is estimated that 47 people will be killed and 527 injured in jet ski accidents in 2023, making them the second most dangerous watercraft after open motorboats.
Jack’s family said he loved going on vacations to amusement parks and was thrilled to finally be big enough to go on many of the rides
Jack was also a big fan of reading according to his principal and his family. He loved Percy Jackson, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Harry Potter
Jack’s family is seeking $10 million in damages and punitive damages determined reasonable in any eventual trial.
Jack is survived by his parents and two siblings.
The boy was a fifth-grader at Union City Elementary School in West Tennessee and was said to have always had a book in his hands.
“He always had a book. If he got in trouble for anything, it was for reading too much, and that’s a great reason to get in trouble at school,” said Allison Palmer, the school’s principal. WSMV just days after Jack’s untimely death.
His family told the local outlet that as he packed his things to head to camp on the Boxwell Reservation, he wasn’t focused on bringing toys or games. Instead, he was deciding which two books to bring.
The family also released a statement about him, saying he should have been given the chance to grow up with his siblings.
“He loved going on vacations and seeing all the places we could go. He loved going to amusement parks and riding roller coasters. He was so excited to be big enough to ride the big roller coasters. He loved reading anything and everything and was going to be moving into the advanced classes in 5th grade this year.
The family wrote in a statement: “He was the best brother our children could have asked for. He is the best boy. Our sweet Jack. Jack loved hugs and would always hug everyone he met. His smile was intoxicating.”
“He loved Percy Jackson and Harry Potter and all things Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He was the best brother any of our children could ask for. He is the best boy. Our sweet Jack. Jack loved hugs and would always hug everyone he met. His smile was intoxicating.”
Larry Brown, CEO of the Middle Tennessee Council, said The Tennessean that the organization would not comment on the lawsuit, but offered their thoughts and prayers to the Gear family.
“We are devastated by the tragic accident that occurred this summer at Boxwell Scout Reservation,” he said. “Our prayers go out to the Gear family and everyone affected by this tragedy. The accident is currently under investigation by the TWRA and we are fully cooperating with their investigation.”
Boy Scouts of America has also not commented on the ongoing lawsuit.
“Scouting America is deeply saddened by the passing of Jack Gear and our condolences to his family and friends. Due to ongoing litigation, we will not be commenting further,” the organization said in a statement.