Juvenile charged following teen’s death while ‘car surfing’ in Colorado

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) - A teenager is dead as the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a trend called “car surfing.”

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office issued an update on the deadly case stating the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office filed charges against a juvenile. The suspect is not being identified because of their age, but they are being charged with vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, and reckless endangerment.

The tragic death occurred on May 5 after deputies were called to a crash along Quarry Drive. The area is south of Lone Tree. The sheriff’s office says witnesses reported the back seat passengers were “hanging out” of the car’s windows before the car crashed. A 16-year-old eventually passed away and their identity was not released to the public. The sheriff’s office believes they were “car surfing.” The trend reportedly involves someone riding on the outside of a motor vehicle.

“No thrill or adrenaline rush is worth sacrificing your life or the lives of your friends or family member,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a news release issued this week.

The video at the top of this article shows dashcam footage from an incident of car surfacing that was filmed on April 17 along C-470.

The sheriff’s office provided the following points to the public:

-Life is Precious: Remember, our lives are invaluable, and reckless activities like car surfing can have irreversible consequences.

-Peer Pressure Awareness: Never succumb to peer pressure or feel compelled to engage in dangerous activities for the sake of fitting in or seeking a thrill.

-Speak Out: If you notice someone planning or participating in car surfing or any other dangerous stunts, don’t stay silent. Speak up and report it to the appropriate authorities or a trusted adult.

-Educate Others: Share this message with your friends, family, and social media followers. Together, we can spread awareness and prevent further tragedies.

-Drivers can face serious criminal charges, including: Reckless Driving, Various Seatbelt Violations (depending on age of passengers), Permitting Person to Hang On/Attach Themselves to the Outside of Vehicle, Permitted Passenger to Ride in an Unsafe Manner, Reckless Endangerment, Third Degree Assault, Vehicular Assault, Vehicular Homicide. Potential charges for the person not riding correctly include: Person Hung On/Attached Themselves to the Outside of Vehicle.

“Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of each and every one of you. Please remember to stay safe, make responsible choices, and encourage others to do the same. We need to work together to prevent further tragedies,” said Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly.

Copyright 2023 KKTV. All rights reserved.