Boys drive excavator at Pa. mine, smash bulldozer

[Transit]

You guys are pretty harsh. This was a big stupid but if you were ever boys you must have done some stupid things. Maybe you even did some illegal things. I'm sure the law is going to take care of those boys but 9 and 12 is a little young for the death penalty.

Chris

And what about the skidder had gone into the day care center, 5, 10 or more dead kids?

 

[deereman75]

Why weren't they home playing video games like the rest of the teens.

hey I am 14 and i spend all of my time working in the yard and never play video games (most of my time on the laptop is on this site, and the rest is looking at equipment)

 

[dave1949]

I don't think throwing a 9 and 12 year on the trash heap as lost causes is right.

Their own parents have already failed them, and may well continue to do so if they remain in their care.

Sending them to a reformatory or the like may only make them worse than they went in.

Unless these boys are mentally disturbed, putting them in an environment where someone committed to success actually does some parenting and raising up has a good chance of making normal folks out of them. 9 and 12 are still very impressionable ages.

Unfortunately, those conditions and people are rare I think. That's a pity and has nothing to do with the failings of children. Regular, mentally normal children become what they are raised to be, even if there are bumps along the way.

Yes, they did damage but thankfully, no one died or was maimed.
Dave.

 

[padad]

I registered to the site for one reason.I'm the father of the twelve year old boy.I realize that this is a board for people who own/operate equipment and your equipment is your livelyhood,but some of the responses to this story make me sick.I hate to think we live in a world where a piece of equipment is valued more than a childs life.
Just a little backround for those of you who choose to judge my wife and I.We are not "Trash".We both have full time jobs.I'm an RN and a part time/volunteer paramedic/firefighter.My wife works full time and cares for her family in spite of being stricken with Multiple Sclerosis.She does not collect disability,like many others. This has been a nigthmare for us.We are not rich and as a matter of fact,live paycheck to paycheck like most Americans these days.My mother passed away right before Christmas and since this has happened,my father has been diagnosed with rectal cancer.So,anyone wanna trade places? I didn't think so...
As you can imagine,the media chose to leave out many facts about this incident to create a better story..They failed to mention that the site was/is unsecured,is a few hunderd yards from a small "coal patch" community where approx. 20 childern between 1-14 yrs old reside.And the keys were in the ignition of the machines.(which ,according to the OSHA rep we spoke with, is a major violation)The kids have rode ATVs on the former site for many years and the owner of the equipment KNEW IT! why they thought it was a good idea to leave the keys in unsecured equipment is beyond me.We as well as he police and everyone else involved thank God everyday the kids weren't hurt.But lets be realistic...if (God forbid) they had been...this would have been a totaly different story...the kind lawyers dream of...
As far as the topic of uninsured equipment,I don't know how that works,but I know the law requires me to have insurance on the old Dodge van I drive.Why its ok to have equipment on a job site without insurance is beyone me.
Because my son is a juvinille and the case is headed to court in a few weeks,I will choose to stop here.All I can add is that if you expect people to believe you know where your kids are and what they are doing 24/7...youre lying and you know it.My son has never been in trouble before or since.Did the kids make bad choices,yes.Theres a reason we don't let kids drive/vote/drink/own weapons/etc...they're not real good decision makers.We,as adults,are supposed to help with that.Google the term "contributory negligence."Guys,learn from this.
One more fact.My father-in-law has a John Deere 455G that sits in our yard.My son never rode it.Wanna know why? It's locked.
Oh,and firemanpat2910.I hope you don't have children.If you do,I feel sorry for them...

 

[aczlan]

As you can imagine,the media chose to leave out many facts about this incident to create a better story..

As is always the case.

They failed to mention that the site was/is unsecured,is a few hunderd yards from a small "coal patch" community where approx. 20 childern between 1-14 yrs old reside.And the keys were in the ignition of the machines.(which ,according to the OSHA rep we spoke with, is a major violation)The kids have rode ATVs on the former site for many years and the owner of the equipment KNEW IT! why they thought it was a good idea to leave the keys in unsecured equipment is beyond me.

As for it being locked, the equipment should be secured when not in use (ie: at very least, no keys in the ignition). That does not excuse your son for joyriding on someone else's equipment and I hope that the judge will make that very clear.

As far as the topic of uninsured equipment,I don't know how that works,but I know the law requires me to have insurance on the old Dodge van I drive.Why its ok to have equipment on a job site without insurance is beyone me.

Two completely different issues here.
1. Your van is required by law to have LIABLILTY insurance, ie: if you hit someone else, the ins co pays for the damages to their car (but not yours).
2. If you have a loan on it, the bank probbaly requires that you have collision/comprehensive so that if you hit someone and damage your car, the ins co pays to repair their car and your car. This insurance is generally 2-3 times more expensive then liability only

I am sure that the person who owns this equipment has liability insurance in case they or one of their workers hits something and breaks it, but it is common to only carry liability on large power equipment if you own it outright.

Aaron Z

 

[padad]

As is always the case.


As for it being locked, the equipment should be secured when not in use (ie: at very least, no keys in the ignition). That does not excuse your son for joyriding on someone else's equipment and I hope that the judge will make that very clear

Aaron Z

If the keys were not in the ignition,they wouldn't have been able to joyride on it.I probably wasted my time posting on this forum,because everyone seems to already have formed their opinion.But when I see posts wishing harm on my child,I rise to defend him.Anyone who dosen't understand that is someone whose opinion I'm not interested in.

 

[sweep]

You guys are pretty harsh. This was a big stupid but if you were ever boys you must have done some stupid things. Maybe you even did some illegal things.
Chris

1. Yes I have done stupid things at that age. (went to pick up a firework rocket that flew but never banged LOL

2. Yes, I did some illegal thing in life. (stole some penny candy)

3. No I have never caused destruction or stole something on the scale those little miscreants did.


4. I would have never done what those kids did even at a younger age than them because I knew even at age 5 there would be **** to pay for it at home.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Couldnt sleep and just stumbled on this thread. I too am shocked at some of the responses, even if you dont have kids you all must surely remember something of childhood and giving in to temptations even though you knew it wasnt quite right. I never saw the actual article as to how the cat got damaged but how many adults dont really know the size and power of equiptment? How many threads are on TBN about accidentally hitting something? At least the boys fessed up to doing it which is more than most adults do in this day and age. It sounds like a real bad situation for all parties involved and I wish all parties good luck in sorting it all out!

Rick

 

[joemd11]

Yep, bad situation all the way around. At least no one was hurt. Hope some lessons were learned and taken to heart. Growing up can be hard with many opportunities for trouble.

 

[nwltruck]

When I was young if I did damage to someone else's stuff I was made to pay to fix it(my parents didn't bail me out )
I believe the children of today have no concern for the property of others. I have 3 kids and they all know if they mess up they clean it up, or pay for it.
You don't have to beat a child to make them realize there are consequences to there actions.
Yes I had money at age 9. May take time but the kid can make some restitution for his stupidity. Hard work leaves more of an impression than a limp wristed swat on the butt ........