Officials: Teen Should Not Have Been Driving Jet Ski
Memorial Fund Set Up For Alyssa Jostad
POSTED: 4:07 p.m. MDT June 26, 2002
UPDATED: 6:06 p.m. MDT June 26, 2002
DENVER -- A 9-year-old girl hit by a watercraft at Chatfield Reservoir over the weekend was pulled off of organ support late Tuesday night.
Alyssa Jostad was critically injured in Sunday's Jet Ski crash, and was declared brain dead Tuesday. She was being kept alive by artificial means at Children's Hospital until suitable recipients can be found for her organs.
"Even though this is a very unfortunate and tragic event, had the parents not made the decision to donate organs, it would not have given other children life," said Jostad's uncle Larry Gallegos. "She was such a sweet child."
Jefferson County investigators have arrested a 14-year-old Lakewood girl and interviewed another 16-year-old girl in connection with the reservoir accident.
The 14-year-old driver of the watercraft was released to her parents and faces a charge of criminally negligent homocide.
Investigators said that the teen was not cleared to operate the 8-feet long watercraft, which apparently was going in the wrong direction around the lake during the time of the crash.
Jefferson County deputies have seized the watercraft involved in the incident, a Kawasaki 1100 Jet Ski (similar one pictured right), and it is now part of the evidence.
Because it is such a large powerful watercraft (it puts out 120 horsepower), anyone 14 to 16 years old is required to take a safety course to operate it, and the 14-year-old had not, Jefferson County Sheriff's spokeswoman Jacki Tallman said.
Chatfield State Park officials said that such a class is critical, otherwise people don't know the rules of the water or how to handle such a large powerful vehicle.
"They don't realize what they're doing. They just see people out there, they think it's a lot of fun, and maybe they think they're going to some amusement park, so to speak, and they're getting on a ride," said Chatfield State Park spokesman Jim Smith.
The 16-year-old who was the passenger on the Jet Ski was not arrested.
A memorial fund has been established for Allysa Jostad. To contribute to the memorial fund, go to any Wells Fargo Bank branch in the state. The savings account is called, "The Scott and Rhonda Jostad Memorial account for Alyssa Jostad."
If you have more information about this case, you are still asked to call the Jefferson County Tip line at (303) 271-5599.
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Alyssa Jostad was critically injured in Sunday's Jet Ski crash, and was declared brain dead Tuesday. She was being kept alive by artificial means at Children's Hospital until suitable recipients can be found for her organs.
"Even though this is a very unfortunate and tragic event, had the parents not made the decision to donate organs, it would not have given other children life," said Jostad's uncle Larry Gallegos. "She was such a sweet child."
Jefferson County investigators have arrested a 14-year-old Lakewood girl and interviewed another 16-year-old girl in connection with the reservoir accident.
The 14-year-old driver of the watercraft was released to her parents and faces a charge of criminally negligent homocide.
Investigators said that the teen was not cleared to operate the 8-feet long watercraft, which apparently was going in the wrong direction around the lake during the time of the crash.
Jefferson County deputies have seized the watercraft involved in the incident, a Kawasaki 1100 Jet Ski (similar one pictured right), and it is now part of the evidence.
Because it is such a large powerful watercraft (it puts out 120 horsepower), anyone 14 to 16 years old is required to take a safety course to operate it, and the 14-year-old had not, Jefferson County Sheriff's spokeswoman Jacki Tallman said.
Chatfield State Park officials said that such a class is critical, otherwise people don't know the rules of the water or how to handle such a large powerful vehicle.
"They don't realize what they're doing. They just see people out there, they think it's a lot of fun, and maybe they think they're going to some amusement park, so to speak, and they're getting on a ride," said Chatfield State Park spokesman Jim Smith.
The 16-year-old who was the passenger on the Jet Ski was not arrested.
A memorial fund has been established for Allysa Jostad. To contribute to the memorial fund, go to any Wells Fargo Bank branch in the state. The savings account is called, "The Scott and Rhonda Jostad Memorial account for Alyssa Jostad."
If you have more information about this case, you are still asked to call the Jefferson County Tip line at (303) 271-5599.
Previous Stories:
- June 25, 2002: 14-Year-Old Girl Arrested For Reservoir Death June 24, 2000: Girl Critically Injured By Jet Ski
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