Boys drive excavator at Pa. mine, smash bulldozer

[whodat526]

the kids have done something wrong that could have been prevented on by both the parents and the company. but the boys should still be responsible for there actions but for people to say they should be put to death or that they should have ran each other over you are sick and need to go check yourself into a mental hospital somewhere

 

[Mace Canute]

Hmmmm...padad seems to think it's everybody's fault but his own that his kid trespassed and destroyed equipment.

Just another "My little Johnny would never do (fill in the blank)."

From as far back as I can remember, I knew it was wrong to damage anyone's property and I also knew it was wrong to trespass, even if I didn't know the word itself. Apparently my parents taught me that at a very early age, along with many other good life lessons, because I sure don't think it's something I was born knowing!

 

[grsthegreat]

I did some stupid things in my youth also, but i never intentionally destroyed anything. The parents may lose their homes, but it was damage caused by their kids. What i do wonder is how someone can cause 150,000 damage to a bulldozer. Those things are built like tanks. Just hitting it cant cause that much damage. The kids must have used the excavator to purposefully destroy it. More than just kids games.

 

[whodat526]

I did some stupid things in my youth also, but i never intentionally destroyed anything. The parents may lose their homes, but it was damage caused by their kids. What i do wonder is how someone can cause 150,000 damage to a bulldozer. Those things are built like tanks. Just hitting it cant cause that much damage. The kids must have used the excavator to purposefully destroy it. More than just kids games.

i just would like to know what size bulldozer and what brand because 150000 worth of damage seems far stretched

 

[jtheys]

It's nice that you joined to try to defend your children's actions, but no amount of blame you try to put on the coal company will change the fact that your kids trespassed and flat out demolished equipment. Any adult that did that would go to jail for a very long time. I fully support any and all prosecution that could come out of this, and fully hope that the coal company owner will be fully repaid for the damage as well as any lost revenue in the process.

The company can leave any key in any piece of equipment they want as long as it's on their property. Public property is another story.

Own up and take some responsibility for your childs' actions. Don't try to pass blame. If you can't see that you and your child are 100% at fault and need to repay the damages (repair and lost revenue), you are in denial.

I wish nothing but the best for the health of your family, but you have responsibility for your actions of your child.

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...

 

[grsthegreat]

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...

sorry guy for your problems, but personally all i see by reading this post is that you blame the mining company for everything, i guess if they never owned the equipment you'd by in the clear.

I'm personally sick and tired of people blaming their kids behavior on society...and not shouldering the responsibility. I had a neighbor a few years back that had 6 of his restored muscle cars spray painted by some kids. The kids left finger imprints on the cars, and was able to track them down to two families kids...by kids i mean 9 - 13 yo's. The kids parents were adamant that their little darlings would never do such a thing...never mind the paint on their clothes and hands, and stood by their kids denials. They blamed the cars owners for not keeping paint cans locked up and the cars in a shop....... it pissed me off to no end.

I was brought up at a time where people took responsibility for their actions and their kids actions. I guess this is what the world is turning into.

Also, how you can justify a 12 yo child's destructive works as not their fault is really beyond me. Even if the mining company had insurance on their equipment, why should THEIR insurance pay for your kids damage. All that would happen is the Mining companies rates would skyrocket and THEY would be footing the bill. The bottom line is the equipment was NOT on your property, and whether or not the keys were in it, your kids should have known better than to touch someone Else's stuff....period.

 

[BigBoyinMS]

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...

First, I'll say that I agree that some comments were over the top. The kids don't deserve death or maiming. But they do deserve, above all else, punishment enough that, in their minds, they would prefer death. Namely, an old fashioned butt whipping to begin. Along with all his free time taken up with some sort of community service or anything that would keep him too busy to get in any sort of trouble again for a long time. They admitted to doing it because they were "bored".
And I would guess, from the "woe is us, we are always victims" tone of your whole post, that your boy has gotten very little "thoughtful" discipline other than being yelled at then ignored and is probably given no responsibility. And you have probably tried to be a good parent, based on today's easy way of parenting, by giving him all the toys and video games, etc. that he wanted and not making him earn them in any way. He probably has never had any respect for his things before, since everything he gets is given with no effort on his part, so why would he think smashing other peoples things is any big deal? They can get more.
Ok, this is all supposition on my part. Reality is probably the total opposite of what I described.... but I doubt it.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

First, I'll say that I agree that some comments were over the top. The kids don't deserve death or maiming. But they do deserve, above all else, punishment enough that, in their minds, they would prefer death. Namely, an old fashioned butt whipping to begin. Along with all his free time taken up with some sort of community service or anything that would keep him too busy to get in any sort of trouble again for a long time. They admitted to doing it because they were "bored".
And I would guess, from the "woe is us, we are always victims" tone of your whole post, that your boy has gotten very little "thoughtful" discipline other than being yelled at then ignored and is probably given no responsibility. And you have probably tried to be a good parent, based on today's easy way of parenting, by giving him all the toys and video games, etc. that he wanted and not making him earn them in any way. He probably has never had any respect for his things before, since everything he gets is given with no effort on his part, so why would he think smashing other peoples things is any big deal? They can get more.
Ok, this is all supposition on my part. Reality is probably the total opposite of what I described.... but I doubt it.

You know, you made a good point that I have neglected with my own child. I grew up in a family that didn't have much money and as a result I never had much. My "fun" as a kid was taking a short handled shovel and digging holes in a dirt pile left over from when the house foundation was dug. I would keep myself busy all day digging and filling in holes. It kept me out of the house and away from my three sisters. I never got in trouble or even messed around with anyone elses equipment even though it was all around the area being in a rural country setting. But as I got older I started working when I turned 12 and have been working ever since (21 years now). Almost everything I have or had while growing up I bought with my own money and as a result I take great care of my things and others.

However, after saying all that, I have a great little girl who turned 7 a couple weeks ago. I have been fortunate enough to not have to worry about money too much anymore. I am not rich (which is why I won't pay my NH dealer to get back my tractor they screwed me over on) but I can afford to buy my daughter what she wants and basically spoil her. I guess I do so because I didn't want her to grow up not having much. But she is very spoiled and doesn't take care of any of her toys/electronics and such. It was frustrating but your post just reminded me of why she is that way. I am not raising her like I was raised, I am raising her the way I wish I was raised and to be honest, I think I turned out ok. My daughther is a great kid though and is very caring and helpful to others so I am not disappointed, I just wish she didn't have the attitude of if something breaks "Santa will bring me another"

 

[Robert_in_NY]

i just would like to know what size bulldozer and what brand because 150000 worth of damage seems far stretched

I don't know the size or brand but I know the new corn planter Agco just released has a price tag of $235,000. Machines that are not mass produced cost a lot more then their smaller mass produced siblings. Heck, the grape harvesters around here cost $250-$300k each. I know a dozer is built strong but the damage can add up very fast and if it gets too high the machine is just totaled and you get replacement cost for a new one. Some of the large excavators in mines can easily destroy a powerful dozer.

 

[jtheys]

You can't think about a piece of major construction equipment for less than 200K these days.