Jet Ski Operators Too Young

An investigation is under way into a deadly personal watercraft accident at the Jersey shore that killed a 14-year-old boy.

Police said two WaveRunners were headed into Ottens Harbor near Wildwood, N.J., Monday afternoon. John Lord, 14, was a passenger on the lead vehicle driven by Kevin DiPaolo, 15. Lord's sister, Colleen Lord, 15, operated the WaveRunner that was following the one driven by DiPaolo.

DiPaolo swerved the vehicle to avoid a crab pot buoy and turned directly in the path of the second watercraft, investigators said. The second vehicle hit DiPaolo and ran over Lord. He had a fractured neck and his aorta was torn.

"She was just like a mess. She was like, 'My brother, I hope he is all right.' She didn't even know (he died). She knew he had fell off the jet ski and that was it," said Connie Jordan, a witness.

As the two WaveRunners were hauled away, the depth of the tragedy became apparent to the girl.

"His sister was here, and she saw her brother and he was not in very good shape. And then, somehow, the father arrived. I don't know whether (he was contacted) by cell phone. But then the father arrived and he saw the son and, again, it was not a very nice sight," said Lloyd Hayes, the marina owner.

Lord's family has a summer home in Wildwood. "They come in for fuel here. They are just a very nice family -- family-oriented people," Hayes remembered.

State police said that a person has to be at least 16 years old to operate a watercraft. In this case, both operators were 15.

Authorities said Colleen Lord took a boating safety course Saturday and Monday was the first time she operated the WaveRunner. Her parents told police they thought she was a legal driver. The parents and the juveniles are facing citations and fines.

Here are the rules for using personal watercraft, according to the New Jersey State Police:
* Operators of personal watercraft must be at least 16 years of age. Under 16 can only be a passenger.
* Operators must have a state boating safety certificate in their possession when operating a personal watercraft.
* Jet ski operators caught without a certificate will be subject to fines ranging from $100 to $500.
* Watercraft cannot be on the waters between sunset and sunrise.
* Watercraft operators must proceed at a safe speed that allows the person operating to take proper action to avoid a collision and stop within a safe distance.
* The watercraft must be at idle speed within 50 feet of a bathing beach, a shoreline and any person in the water.

Here are the rules for renting watercraft:
* Operator must Be 16 years old, with proof of age.
* Operator must watch prerental instructional video and/or take prerental course with an instructor.
* Operator must stay in rider area.
* Watercraft can only go up to 49 mph.
* Owner of rental business must be experienced in the operation of power vessels and complete a boat safety course approved by state police.

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