Boy Scouts employee crashed jet ski, killing 10-year-old at camp, TN lawsuit says

A 10-year-old boy was killed at Boy Scouts camp when a jet ski operated by a staff member crashed into the jet ski he was riding, according to a Tennessee lawsuit.

The parents of Jack Gear filed a wrongful death lawsuit Aug. 30 against the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America seeking $10 million in compensatory damages.

“Scouting America is deeply saddened over the passing of Jack Gear and we offer condolences to his family and friends,” a spokesperson told McClatchy News. “As this is active litigation we will not comment further.”

Gear’s parents dropped him and one of his siblings off at Boxwell Reservation on July 14 for the Tennessee National Guard Youth Development Week, according to documents filed in the Circuit Court for the 20th Judicial District of Tennessee.

On July 16, staff members took the campers out on the lake for water activities, including riding Sea-Doo jet skis, the lawsuit says.

Gear got on a jet ski driven by a 19-year-old employee, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Then, another jet ski driven by an employee, with a camper riding as a passenger, crashed into Gear’s watercraft, the lawsuit says.

Gear died at a hospital, while the 19-year-old was seriously injured, the TWRA said.

Gear’s family accuses the Boy Scouts employees of negligence, saying they “acted recklessly” and failed to protect the young riders by operating the jet skis in a safe manner, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit says the jet ski drivers didn’t maintain the appropriate speed or distance from each other and says the organization didn’t sufficiently train or supervise the jet ski operators.

The Boy Scouts of America prohibits use of motorized personal watercraft unless an exception is approved, according to its Guide to Safe Scouting. The lawsuit says it’s unclear if the Middle Tennessee Council had approval from the broader organization to operate the jet skis.

Gear had just finished fourth grade at Union City Elementary and was going to start middle school the upcoming academic year, according to his obituary. His family said he loved to read and play video games.

His principal described the 10-year-old as “such a bright kid who’ll be dearly missed.”

Boxwell Reservation is about a 35-mile drive northeast from downtown Nashville.

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