February 17, 2010 San Diego

A fatal boat crash that happened in December involving three Rancho Peñasquitos families which killed an 8-year-old boy sued the federal government yesterday for negligence and wrongful death. They hope to change the way the Coast Guard operates the San Diego bay.

Five days before Christmas, Anthony Cole DeWeese and his family were on their 24-foot Sea Ray along with 12 other people were out on the bay enjoying the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights when a 33-foot Coast Guard vessel crashed into their boat. The Coast Guard hit the DeWeeses’ boat when they were on their way to rescue a grounded boater.

About an hour after the accident Anthony Cole DeWeese died at the UCSD Medical Center of blunt-force injuries. Five other people who were involved in the accident were also injured including two young children. The Stannards, who were also on the boat during the accident, their 4-year-old son suffered skull fractures while their 8-year-old daughter, who was a classmate of Anthony’s, suffered a head cut and shoulder and elbow injuries. The father, Jason Stannard suffered a 7-inch head wound but has since returned to work.

The Coast Guard vessel was said to be going 35 to 40 mph when it should be going 5 mph since the bay was filled with hundreds of spectator boats due to the parade.

The family knows that the lawsuit will not bring back Anthony but they hope that this accident doesn’t happen to anyone else. Since the accident boaters have complained about the frequent “hot rodding” by the agencies crews.

San Diego Personal Injury Attorney

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