Arizona teen sentenced in UTV crash that killed a girl

A teen boy was sentenced in the death of 14-year-old Gillian Ragan after Arizona prosecutors say the teen negligently drove the UTV that crashed and killed her.
Because this happened in juvenile court on Tuesday, May 14, cameras could not be inside, and the name of the teen charged, or identifying factors like his parent's names, can not be shared either.
Both prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed with this fact: The teen, while operating a Polaris UTV, crashed it because of criminal negligence, which caused Ragan's death.
The crash happened last year on Dec. 9 around 1 a.m. The UTV reportedly had eight juveniles in it.
In a letter to parents, Chaparral High School Principal Joshua Pantier confirmed the victim to be Gillian Ragan, a 9th-grade student at the school.
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[@CorinneDaniel67]

Why is a 14 year old out at 1am with a bunch of teenagers in the desert? Put the blame where the blame belongs. The parents.

[@JoshyJosh]

You're right. No teen has ever been out at 1 am without their parents knowing... Dufus.

[@_Wingman]

I agree 100 % . I have two daughters , who are in their late 20's now , and they were NEVER allowed to be out at night without me ! This is why .

[@cocoknows]

I knew before I came to the comment section that this was going to be the top post. You people are so damn predictable. Do you know why you have to blame the victims? It's called the just work fallacy. It allows you to maintain the belief that bad things only happen to bad people (people that deserve it), so you can sleep better at night. This could never happen to someone like you.

[@ms55938]

They believed she was at a sleepover. Didn't you listen to the report? She either lied about the sleepover or her and her friend slipped out of the friends house to go party. You can't keep your kids imprisoned in your home. You want someone to blame, blame the idiot 18 year old riding reckless with her on the back. The parents are grieving enough without idiots thinking they know it all.

[@Mystic-_-Demon694]

@@JoshyJosh they always blame the parents but protect and make excuses for the suspect who killed her then they act like they never been out at 1 am when they were teens and their parents let them roam around but they act it never happen like there special then all of us lol

[@buckystarfinger2487]

If you've ever been 14 you know how this happened. Kids don't know the limitations. Sad event.

[@rcguyusvi9206]

that's bs, I would have been hit with the belt a few time if I had just thought about sneaking out at 1am. This preventable event is due to lack of discipline from all the parent involved .

[@buckystarfinger2487]

@@rcguyusvi9206 I wouldn't of done my parents dirty like this when I was 14 either. I was referring to the limitations in judgement of how the Polaris handles. Don't sound like the kids had much respect for the parents.

[@rcguyusvi9206]

@@buckystarfinger2487 I can understand your comment with that explanation, however at 14 how do you not know that 8 passengers is a recipe for disaster ?

[@buckystarfinger2487]

@@rcguyusvi9206 all I know is what the news showed from court and the lawyer talking and a video showing the wreck the next morning. Don't get much from the news.

[@kittenpawsbb]

So 8 kids snuck out at 1am, to drive around in this UTV? That’s crazy, so really anyone of them could have died, they all took a chance and she lost.

[@jocopowell]

"Do you know where your kids are?"

[@anne-lisepayberg5614]

When my kid’s were 14 I new where they were.

[@TruckerChick]

Is it 10pm already?

[@carmony13]

Uncalled for

[@jocopowell]

@@carmony13 It's a quote from an old PSA that came on TV reminding parents to always know where your kids are after 10pm.

[@byronharano2391]

​@@carmony13better no accountability then? Boo!

[@chrisgunsandguitars1403]

8 teens in/on one Polaris UTV? That was an accident just waiting to happen from the get go. Just sad.

[@davidgriffin4401]

Side by side. I guess

[@oldhickory4686]

She chose to get in the vehicle. That's just the hard truth.

[@DeeLite220]

If she was driving and he was killed, something tells me you’d be screaming for the death penalty.

[@oldhickory4686]

@@DeeLite220 What does gender have to do with this?

[@rayray8687]

@@oldhickory4686: So if you get in a bus and the operator chooses to drive in a criminally negligent manner, oh well….

[@arielsea9087]

@@rayray8687 oh but they're very sorry..... Next.

[@rayray8687]

@@arielsea9087: I imagine they are since the girl who died was undoubtedly a friend.

[@noelhernandez363]

Sorry for your loss but in accidents like this one EVERYONE is to blame including PARENTS!!!

[@susanabrown1736]

......"EVERYONE"? .....come on man!!!!....don't blame me.!!! I am old and stay away from trouble like this!!!!,

[@culcune]

@@susanabrown1736 🤣😅

[@culcune]

In all seriousness, I wouldn't put much, if any, blame on her parents. But, I also do not see a major criminal case where their daughter was a random victim of a criminal driver (e.g. DUI driver jumping the curb and running her over, or someone driving completely recklessly blowing through a red light and killing her as she crossed in a crosswalk). The only justice the parents will get will be from civil courts. I do feel they deserve a large settlement based on negligence, but unless prosecutors can dredge up criminal blame on adults involved (e.g. the driver's parents), civil court will be their main source of justice.

[@rickallen1908]

The shenanigans I pulled as a teenager, it's really a miracle I lived to see adulthood. Kids will be kids. They all think they're 10 feet tall & bulletproof. It's very sad this girl lost her life, but basically it was death by misadventure.

[@parasyte676]

This. The poor boy is going to have trauma from this event as well, he never meant to do this.

[@amgineco]

yep! People DIE.. these systems attempt to find a criminal everywhere when here are none! The Parents should have known where their daughter was .. if they did or not it is still ok for kids to do sleepovers..

[@katiesiouxlamoureaux7757]

Why was she out at 1am? Parents just let kids wild out , the parents of the "sleepover" need to be charged

[@ricksomething]

Yep

[@kittenpawsbb]

Agree. Why didn’t she call her parents, when they all left? So even at 14, it’s not good to let your children do sleep overs.

[@prodby.jerm1]

Why? She got in willingly😂 her parents are at fault

[@katiesiouxlamoureaux7757]

@@prodby.jerm1 the sleep over parents are at fault, they took responsibility of another person's child

[@expertsaucegaming]

Parents that let the girl go to that sleepover need to be charged as well because they could’ve clearly stopped her from going, but yet they didn’t blame falls on her parents as well. Just not just the ones that had the sleep had to sleep.

[@marthabrittain2442]

14yrs, out in the desert at 1am?? With 8 other teens and a 14yr old driver. And we wonder why things like this happen. Have you hea4d nothing good happens after midnight

[@zach4627]

It’s almost as if they’re teens doing dumb things like a lot of teens do. When I was their age we use to launch Roman candles at each other. Why? Coz we didn’t think anything bad could seriously happen to us. Coz we were teens

[@marcosleon215]

True I used to sneak out or sometimes stay out past curfew and my mom would get mad and assume the worst then as I started getting older realized a lot of people that are out late usually are doing drugs or drinking, so it made sense

[@kencaz]

Yes, as kids we did crazy stuff... Peer pressure sometimes gets kids to do things they shouldn't... And sometimes they get hurt and or killed... Should they have been in that vehicle... Probably not, but decisions were made...

[@hectorconde5452]

The parents of the girl that died should take responsibility for their daughters death blaming others is their escape

[@johnlafever3162]

She went to a sleep over at a friend's house at 14 yo. Looking for accountability on how eight 14 year olds had access to the UTV, yet weren't wearing helmets or restraints when it flipped doesn't mean their daughter or even they don't have some responsibility in the event, but it also doesn't mean they hadn't checked things out and gone over what the plans were, but we're not made aware of any of this.

[@JudyMoore-lw4qi]

How dare you blame the parents. You are a heartless scumbag. And I’m being polite.

[@neilboucher2529]

Responsibility for letting their daughter stay at a friends house? Really? That's what you got out of this?

[@theunknownone5663]

All teenagers do stupid things. All influence by other dumb teens. It happens.

[@shirleyharris1335]

Teens always do what teens do! Of course they want to sneak out and hang out with friends! They keep secrets from their parents, not telling them the truth! Wonder how many here, besides me, ever not lie to their parents/mother?😊 Of course am sure the young fellow and her friends are grieving as well! The most Sincerest Condolences 💐 😔 ❤🙏🏽

[@maxv3208]

Any normal teenager has had near brushes with death and not thought much about it. Things like getting on the back of a motorcycle with an inexperienced rider or jumping across rooftops are part of being young. It's very unfortunate how this turned out. ☹️

[@annehedonia156]

Jumping across rooftops??

[@randyross5630]

I use to Jump Off Roofs, and do Ninja Rolls (Aikido Rolls) on the Ground, as part of my Training to be thrown by an Asian Master, an Aikido Master around a Cement Basement with the Only Pads being a persons body who got thrown before you (with him trying to time his throws of who's thrown with his more Conditioned Pupils 1st, to be padding for others)... Than before I was even 17 I was a Year Round Full Time Height Worker on Steel Buildings...

[@landonmiller5882]

The daughter owes some blame here too. That attorney putting everything on the driver by not having helmets well look at the 14 yo girl too.

[@enjay5696]

Honestly, either ALL parents should be charged or no one should be charged. These are CHILDREN, we are blaming kids for things that parents are responsible for. Why are a bunch of 14 year olds out at 1 am?

[@annehedonia156]

The voice of reason in an unreasonable world.

[@gingermcgarvey7773]

Teens have snuck out and lied since forever. She is at my house, I'm at her house. All the details are not even known. I'm sure everyone is devastated by this accident. Charges for parents???

[@Rightly_Divided]

Because in this generation parents are not allowed to actually parent, or set boundaries without being called a colonizer, racist, bigot.

[@grammadee94]

What are 14 year old kids doing out at 1 am??? And EIGHT kids are in the vehicle.

[@thaistomp]

Having fun? Lol.

[@hyphydan]

Why do parents buy their children $30,000 UTV and allow them to take it out at 1:00AM?

[@alexhunter1119]

Maybe the 14-year-old shouldn’t have been out so late with a bunch of other 14-year-olds

[@rachelsgibson8318]

I'm sure every parent would feel that way about their child not just these parents

[@lisafehlman221]

I feel like 14 year olds make bad decisions, but it's not, With criminal intent. So sad😭 for all involved.

[@loribaker8339]

My deepest sympathy and condolences to Gillian's family and friends.

[@dianetan5790]

No

[@domingonavarro1288]

Again. Severe sentencing when it involves a female as “victim”. This was nothing more than an accident that happened to teenagers.

[@chrisemerson7743]

I know. I mean unless the driver was trying to do something stupid, as a parent I’d have a hard time throwing all this on him! Even if it was my child. The lawyer is trying to “win votes” like it’s a murder case.

[@jenscheibner792]

Some negligence too...

[@acepilotson3331]

This is certainly tragic but the sentence is adequate. Family of the girl can’t accept that her decisions ultimately lead to her death. Most of the responsibility lies with her.

[@DoobieDeb]

So sad so heartbreaking just terrible Deepest Condolences

[@smokeskull]

I believe those utvs are plastered with all sorts of warnings about who may operate the vehicle and the responsibility of passengers to wear seat belts and helmuts. A warning about them needs to be displayed in schools at a young age.

[@jenscheibner792]

Weight limits... Where people can and can not sit....

[@bluemouse5039]

Kids dont pay attention to warnings or use any common sense because when your young you think bad stuff only happens to other people or the other people didnt know what they were doing as why they got injured or killed , thats why you see young people jumping off concrete stairwells and riding down the hand rails on skate board and not worry about hitting the pavement and getting hurt really bad, But adults will watch them doing it and know the risks and think man is that stupid they could break their necks and end up in wheel chair from a fall like that! Like this accident even if one kid said Hey ! we are overloading this vehicle and might be dangerous! the others would say Yeah, Ok Mom ! god quit worrying, nothing is going to happen, I have driven plenty of times with a bunch of people in here ,now get in!

[@Holden-McGroin]

These machines are typically designed to hold either two or four passengers, with some utility models being designed to hold up to six passengers. It was likely a four passenger model as those are the most common, and to have eight people inside of it, it was grossly overloaded and top-heavy. Out at 1 o’clock in the morning, no helmets, no restraints. Where the hell were all the parents in this?

[@gingermcgarvey7773]

Teens are sneaky liars when they want to party or push the limits. Parents were fast asleep thinking their little straight A student that would never... is asleep, too. Most of us have a story that our parents would be pissed about.

[@rez3501]

So..they took the utv without permission? And were all out in the middle of the night..minors..who is REALLY at fault here? Im sure someone will now get sued as well. 🤦‍♀️ yes this is sad, tragic, bout to insinuate that this girl's life was more valuable than another teens life is an insult to other families who have lost children. That was a very ignorant and insensitive thing to say.

[@culcune]

There are NUMEROUS situations of injustice involving people driving criminally and killing random, innocent people; sometimes involving DUI and sometimes people driving recklessly. I KNOW that this young girl meant the world to her family, but I do not get the same feeling of true, absolute victim that I would had she been killed by a random stranger driving recklessly or under the influence.

[@rez3501]

@culcune 💯💯 I don't believe its right to demonize the kid who was driving either. They were all friends and willing participants. This boy has to live with this the rest of his life. I don't believe he had any malicious intent. It's a very sad and tragic situation.

[@montanausa329]

I think the trauma for any parent losing a 14 year old child is the same regardless

[@Mike-yg2ru]

Parents are lucky they aren't being sentenced

[@angelasposato3922]

Not yet

[@christinef7739]

Why would they be sentenced? Is it illegal to let your teen go on a sleep-over?

[@parasyte676]

@@christinef7739 Because they are sentencing a child who is also a trauma victim who lost their friends. They're blaming everyone else.

[@combos7]

@@christinef7739 nobody takes accountability for their actions anymore

[@zuser12345]

A 14 year old out on a UTV at 1am?!?!?!?! With no helmets or seatbelts? What?!

[@davidtrautman6482]

Make stupid choises, win stupid prizes.

[@thaistomp]

take it easy

[@thomasperkins1513]

Says Mr perfect. Never made a mistake??

[@SgtJoeSmith]

I guess I was smarter or more mature when I was that age. I would not have got on a utv at either 1. 1am. 2. With 7 other teens already on it. 3. With a minor driving, 4. Without parent who owns it knowing. 5. And definitely not all the above.

[@samuelstevens1129]

Exactly. Video games are plenty of entertainment

[@CuriousMouseExploration]

I have questions: her parents let her do a coed sleepover? That was their first really big mistake. Where were the parents of the teen boy? Were there parents home at all? Were they keeping an eye on them? And why is the teen boy the only one at fault? Everyone in the UTV was in it by their own decision. A UTV is not a firearm. Nobody locks up keys to their vehicles because they expect their children to mind the rules. This is teen silliness. That's why you need parental guidance at sleepovers. My friends and I went out toilet papering friends' houses, but one parent drove us around town that night to make sure we didn't get ourselves into trouble. We were the same age as these kids. We wouldn't dream of not asking permission first cuz we all had parents who would make sure we knew their displeasure. We also had a parent offering us snacks every so often thru-out the night. I feel bad about this teen, but she did get into the UTV without permission. This is why we have ages on everything: 16 for driving, 21 for drinking, and 18 for everything else.

[@edgarnewberry-cw4ld]

Well when your 14 year old daughter that is so awesome is riding in the desert at 1:00 am? And you are unaware what she is doing? The failure here is not the kids riding a utv, they are just being kids. The problem here is you not accepting your failure as a parent and that bad thingshappenin life! That said, really sorry for your loss..

[@jdebell7068]

Sorry for your loss 😢

[@jakeburns6566]

Well, all my friends ( the ones that are still alive) would all be in prison for the stupid stuff we did as teens. Bummer on the young girls life loss.

[@greatlakes4753]

This is just a terrible accident that's happened a countless number of times and will happen many times again. That attorney is the real bloodsucker.

[@vivian2217]

What was a14 year old doing out at 1 am? I valued my life too much to try anything like that.

[@kittenpawsbb]

Umm it’s difficult for many parents to lose a child, regardless of the life they lived before. What is the lawyer talking about? Don’t minimize what other parents have gone through, it’s unnecessary to make that comparison. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@charlespittsjr604]

I don't want to diminish anyones life but that lawyer said that totally wrong lol. Like other 14 yr olds were just below par because she was twenty times better than those 14 yr olds . Just ignore me i have wierd thoughts sometimes. Lol .

[@portlandgirlx0x096]

I was thinking the same! The attorney was basically just doing his job. 🕊

[@Meh...171]

I understand the grief of the parents who lost their child. However, to lawyer up and sue is ridiculous. Teenagers will be teenagers. What happened that night was a tragic accident. Their daughters willingly snuck out and got in that vehicle, and it ended horribly.

[@user-nb2eg7yl6h]

I just want to say.to the family.sorry for your lost.my heart goes out to you

[@user-gc6fq5uv9b]

😢rest in peace God bless family members heartbreaking

[@Falconryful]

Unfortunate accident

[@CyberneticOrganism01]

Condolences ... no body intended this, it's just a sad accident

[@aaadamt964]

We all know what risk we're taking when we get in something like that. Nobodys fault but her own. Im sure the kid driving is traumatized too. Adding criminal charges on top of the ACCIDENT isnt doing anyone any favors.

[@TheClevengers]

Why were these teens out at this hour in the morning …. Was it a lack of parenting? I don’t know but this is extremely sad and absolutely heartbreaking. I hope the young man that did this redoes his life journey and changes his life and the life of others in a positive way.

[@SgtJoeSmith]

Yes. We road bikes and mopeds around till midnight in summer as teens. But we were like 15 to 17 then. Home by midnight and obeyed traffic laws and didn't give others rides and didn't break laws. No one ever hurt, killed or in trouble with cops. I guess we were boring kids compared to today's standards

[@USAWILL]

Your wrong 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@annehedonia156]

Does anyone else here remember the days when there were just tragic accidents and no one had to be blamed??

[@joeblow-tp6gz]

This is a tragedy not made better by the parents and lovely lawyer!

[@joshuasanders6375]

You all are acting like we never did things we weren’t supposed to as kids. We lied to our parents, we went out with our friends and had fun. This was a tragic accident. Nothing more and nothing less.

[@culcune]

As tragic as this was, the victims were part of it. Justice will mostly be served in civil court.

[@annehedonia156]

​@@culcune"Justice" in the form of mucho dinero. 🙄

[@SUNNYSKYTX]

RIP Gillian.

[@markminer7390]

Very sad. Life is fragile and a heart breaking lesson for all. RIP young lady.

[@DanialMusselwhite]

That is sad and heartbreaking 💔 for that young girl.

[@alaefarmestatesllc]

14 out at 1 am hot riding in a Polaris? Yeah, the parents are to blame also. They need to stop playing victim.

[@kathydavenport4422]

Rest In Peace beloved daughter friend. May your family and friends find healing and peace Blessings Be.

[@freddewittii8469]

She is part of the blame for her own death

[@ColeTurner-sr8mc]

People are too quick to access blame in cases of tragedies involving children...

[@chrisemerson7743]

@PMurray2694😂😂😂😂

[@chrisatkins7959]

Truly sad what the American justice system has become. It’s the parent’s job to keep their children safe. Their decisions have consequences. My 4 and 6 yr. old girls raced motorcycles. I taught and explained how safety equipment protects them. They never rode without helmets. When you leave your child in the custody of other parents , you should KNOW if they have proper decision making capabilities. A very tragic accident but that’s what it was…….an accident. They are trying to put the blame on others when the blame sits squarely on their own shoulders. RIP Gillian 😇

[@jmos96]

Kid should be in jail along with his parents. Other states have figured this out.

[@AKAKiddo]

Every child is precious to their parents, not just this one. The parents of the child that died are partly to blame as well. They are the ones that let her go on the sleepover. The fact that these parents blame others for their loss kind of tells you where their head is.

[@minoxidilbeardandhairprodu4598]

This video came with an injury lawyer ad 😆

[@Valco458]

Drivers like “Dude my bad. This is the absolute worst thing that IV’E ever had happen to ME in MY entire life “ Hey can somebody get me another Redbull?

[@autumnfragrance6326]

Sleepover? Why the girl lie to her parents?? Why she ride on the motorcycle in the middle of the night?

[@jdc8352]

A motorcycle has 2 wheels. This machine has 4.

[@Coinking125]

Typical low -q american blame the victim. i bet you think the 258,000 kids we killed in Iraq are to blame for their own deaths, right baa baa?

[@johnnyperez1969]

Yes good question so horrible 😮

[@IH8YALLL]

Was NOT a motorcycle! It was a side by side.

[@Weaf2727]

This is very sad and my heart goes out to the parents, but this sounds like a bunch of teens, being teens and doing really stupid stuff. I'm a Gen X and we lost friends growing up due to kids doing stupid things including on tractors, buggies, and motorcycles and all were accidents. Drugs and guns took out a few more but that is another level of stupid that should be punished.

[@kevinbarry3548]

Parents allowing their 14 year old to be out driving a group of kids crammed into an UTV at 1:00 am....what could possibly go wrong?

[@chrisemerson7743]

First of all there are restraints in these vehicles! Second, it’s kinda hard to blame someone for leaving the keys in their UTV. I could just as easily ask wtf was a 14yr old girl doing out at 12-1am in the morning! Either one of them since the driver was 14 as well!

[@jenscheibner792]

Who didn't know that there were 8 teenagers around???

[@roninthedestroyer8958]

I they all did a sleep over at the boy who was driving the vehicle. Where the parents of the boy driver?? Were they home?? Were the parents away and he said he was going to stay at his friend's house and lied.?? Parents didn't speak to the other parents to make sure they were supervising them???

[@thethirdseashell]

At 1am, I am certain the parents were asleep.

[@tomrobla8981]

The owner of the Polaris needs to be held accountable for allowing kids access to vehicle.

[@yellowdog2181]

When I was a teenager, it was the late 80s , my mom always broke my balls , telling me “ nothing good happens after midnight “ . As I got older it really is a true statement

[@kgfairgo5559]

It was an accident

[@reneefurrer2712]

What was a 14 year old doing out at 1 am?? This is such a sad story! Prayers for her family.

[@craigwynia5280]

My ❤ goes out to the parents and family 😢 .

[@sct4040]

Why was she out at 2am? Wasn’t she a participant? Why were any of them out at 2am?

[@Roman-Z]

"We are all so very very sorry."

[@Bobby8451]

When a bunch of kids get together they get stupid. I could say that for any age actually but they're not mature enough to know or care of the outcome.

[@martyjoseph9507]

14 year olds, about the age where you go goof around and have fun without understanding the seriousness of what could happen. Many times we did dumb stuff, the difference is if they were all laughing or were some saying to stop because I'm scared...

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

Um, can 8 kids even fit in a Polaris? Am I missing something?

[@stephwiller9089]

It's tragic but she was clearly part of the problem. The parents are sad, I get that. The driver screwed up and was reckless. BUT all the other kids involved made the choice to participate in that behaviour. They chose to go out in the middle of the night to a desert and get in that thing with a bunch of people without any safety precautions. Is it typical teen behaviour, yes. Is it unfortunate that it ended badly, yes. Considering we have teens deliberately killing each other, I feel like this one was an accident worthy of probation.

[@AtomicEy]

"no restraints" so weren't using seat belts?

[@brandontherun8637]

Are accidents forgivable? The parents should be held responsible, kids are kids. The courts are throwing this 14 year old into the system. It’s not fair. It’s not even a crime without intent. That’s the law!

[@HogMan2022]

How very heartbreaking!🙏

[@davids.4760]

How is the 14 year old who willingly got into that UTV any less responsible than the 14 year old who was driving? She wasn't abducted and tied to the UTV against her will. Of course this is a tragedy, but not every tragedy requires that blame be placed. I can pretty well guarantee you that if a 14 year old girl were driving, and a 14 year boy was killed, this would all just go away.

[@hersheyssmith2104]

Why why the parents allow their daughter to be out with a boy late at night? The parents of the deceased should also be held accountable

[@HillyBill38548]

Somebody should sue the girls parents for her sneaking out and willingly getting into the ATV This is what kids do. Suing will not bring her back

[@nancismith7705]

I don’t care what the age of the boy is,it shouldn’t matter in the incarnation of the driver! If you don’t make the consequences strong enough for the child and parents, it will continue to happen! My daughter’s high school class was the first to graduate without a classmate dying from driving drunk. They did it by taking keys from anyone who was drinking and giving them to a designated driver who drank no alcohol. They stayed in place until they were sober. Any group of kids can change but they must put in the effort to do so.

[@atllzable]

I am SO SORRY ........Rest with God, Gillian...My Heart-Felt condolences to the remaining Family...

[@graciefreebush394]

Are kids allowed to drive these vehicles? If not, find the parents who were supposed to be responsible and get them into court.

[@barrymayson2492]

When I was 14 we were getting into a pubs some times. The point is 14 year olds are stupid they do dumb things and sometimes get hurt or worse. Parents can and should protect them but it is not easy. At that age they think they are grown up enough to know everything that they need. But dumb enough to not know they don't. My kids were a definite headache at that time, i had many sleepless nights. It's a tragedy for the family and they won't get over it, they have to learn to live with it.

[@seancannon3347]

wait a second, at first I was horrified, then saddened at what the family went through since her birth to find out that she was 14 out in the desert after Midnight? WTF are the parents thinking/doing? it is a tragedy that the parents will live the rest of their lives knowing they should had been a parent THAT night

[@nativestacker4185]

I am sorry for the loss . I am not clear on the story so I have some questions . Were these girls friends or was the Ragan girl forced to get in the ATV ? Did the Ragan girl sneak out of the house or did the parents know she was gone ? Did she have a choice to wear safety gear or was she forced to ride without the safety gear ?

[@culcune]

I am sure she meant the world to her parents, but this is NOT a situation where they should have been expecting the heavy hand of criminal justice to come down on the young driver of the UTV. This is a situation where one gets primary justice via civil courts and obtaining as large of a civil judgement or settlement as one can get.

[@SgtJoeSmith]

​@@culcuneyeah I agree. Everyone on board as much to blame as driver. Stupid kids being stupid and stupid parents not parenting. Let them settle it amongst themselves now, not in criminal court.

[@jenscheibner792]

She wasn't forced...

[@Supernatural2276]

Well you can't keep your teenagers locked in their rooms! Sounds like it was an accident...

[@lakesuperiorgirl17]

Where are the parents allowing a 14 year old out at 1 am

[@deniseblackburn33]

Sad

[@darrenwerner1829]

It's a fact that teenagers do things without thinking. They all decided to go out so the responsibility lies with each one. Setting their sights on the teen boy is wrong because they all are guilty, including the parents. Singling out the teen boy because he drove is not the answer and just ruins a life. I'm sure they all feel an amazing amount of guilt for this tragic accident and that's what this was, an accident.

[@user-zx4gn9so3j]

SAD.

[@Adiscretefirm]

Fire up the civil suit

[@nsnopper]

Where were the parents of the 14 year old driver? Was there no adult supervision during the sleepover? How did the kid get the keys?

[@sharonmcdoniel9392]

Terrible accident with deadly life long consequences.

[@treau3131]

It's sad that such a beautiful young girl lost her life. I have to ask why you let your kid run around at 1am in the morning. I did at 16 years old because my mother didn't much care and my dad was no in the picture. Nobody looked out for me but me. I am lucky with the things I did that I didn't die or kill someone else. Nothing good happens when your teen is running around at night.

[@NCLUSA]

Years ago, I found out (later) our adult neighbor guy, had taken my 4 year old daughter for a ride on his motorcycle, I was more than angry, and angry at my wife for allowing it. People do stupid things, and sometimes those stupid things get people killed.

[@crazychase98]

You sure that's your kid. That doesn't make much sense. A wife of your kid should have never allowed neighbor to do that. Why where they hangout when you wherent home anyway

[@parasyte676]

@@crazychase98 Facts

[@user-xq2jz2pt8d]

Kid wanted a ride after seeing how much mommy enjoyed her own ride 😂

[@martypoynter9806]

Her parents are also to blame for her to be out at that time, with 7 other teens