ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The parents of a 15-year-old boy killed in a boat crash in St. Petersburg earlier this year are filing a wrongful death suit against the teen driver's parents., demanding upwards of $50,000 in damages.
Collin Moorefield died from his injuries after he and the driver, also 15, were thrown from their boat, the "Key West" when it crashed into a dock around Bayshore Boulevard and Connecticut Avenue in March. 10 Tampa Bay is not naming the teen boat driver due to his age.
The teen driver was allegedly drunk, according to the lawsuit. He reportedly drove it "near its top speed" at 43.5 miles per hour before colliding with the dock.
The lawsuit, filed by Collin's father Breck Moorefield, accuses his parents, Anjan and Katherine Tharakan, of negligence, saying they allowed their son to operate their boat knowing he was "ill-equipped" and "inexperienced," according to court records.
Moorefield's parents are demanding $50,000 in compensation to recover from incurred expenses, physician's fees, and funeral costs after losing their son, the lawsuit said.
"Collin Moorefield’s Survivors suffered lost support and services, loss of Collin Moorefield’s companionship and protection, mental pain and suffering, funeral expenses, loss of instruction, and loss of guidance, and will continue to suffer these damages in the future for the remainder of their useful lives," the attorney representing the parents stated in the lawsuit.
Moorefield's parents also demanded a jury trial, according to the lawsuit. A date is yet to be scheduled.