Grandfather to Court in Death of Child in ATV Accident

Filed in archive News on December 21, 2007

Involuntary manslaughter charges will be brought against Wayne David shepherd' for the death of his 3 year old grandson, Kaleb Curtis, in an ATV accident on private property in North Carolina.

In Aug of this year, Wayne and his grandson were riding the ATV when Wayne lost control, hit an embankment and flipped the ATV. Kaleb was not wearing a helmet at the time, and I have to wonder how fast grandpa was going to flip that ATV over. I admit to riding with my kids, but at extremely low speeds, and they are always wearing a helmet when they ride.

I imagine that grandpa is feeling pretty bad about this, as well he should, but do you think it's right to charge him with manslaughter? Tough call. I'd have to say he was negligent in that he was obviously traveling too fast to be having a 3 year old on there without a helmet. Parents (or adults in general) need to start taking responsibility for their actions when they result in the death of children, or anyone for that matter.