Car surfing
A man will face charges of vehicular assault after his friend fell from his truck during an apparent attempt to "car surf." This video still, taken from YouTube, depicts someone attempting the stunt. (Photo: YouTube)

Driver arrested after 'car surfing' incident

BY Brandi Kruse  on September 11, 2012 @ 2:10 pm (Updated: 3:30 pm - 9/11/12 )

A passenger who suffered serious injuries after falling off his friend's truck in an apparent attempt to "car surf" will not face charges in the incident. The driver was arrested for vehicular assault.

A group of friends were driving on a remote gravel road in the Capitol Forest near Olympia over the weekend when one man decided to hop on the cab of the vehicle while it was moving, according to the Washington State Patrol.

He fell off the truck and suffered serious injuries, including head trauma, and was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Trooper Guy Gill said the driver of the truck, Jim Ramsey, was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

"The driver is responsible for the safety of passengers," Gill said. "It would be hard not to know that you had a guy up on the top of your truck. Did they intend for this to happen? Probably not."

Gill stressed that laws of the roadway still apply in remote areas.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
More Local News
Top Stories

  • Now What?
    Investigators, engineers, and lawmakers seek answers to fixing I-5 after bridge collapse

  • Survivor's Tale
    "I hit the brakes and we went off"

  • Bridge Distress
    Washington has an unfortunate history of bridge disasters
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (12)


  • Add A Comment

  • dori monson fan wrote...
    oh please
    September 11, 2012 2:58 pm
    vehicular assault? these are just boys being boys. they were on a remote gravel road. plus the driver didn't force the guy to surf on his truck. what does charging this kid really accomplish?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    dori fan
    September 11, 2012 3:08 pm
    driving is not a right. Drinking and driving is just boys being boys?? really?? how did they get the the gravel road?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    333
    September 11, 2012 3:39 pm
    it says they were on a remote gravel road. it sounds like they were probably out partying and camping in the sticks somewhere. if they were driving on a real road with other cars, then yea pop him with dui.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    333
    September 11, 2012 3:42 pm
    it says they were on a remote gravel road. it sounds like they were probably out partying and camping in the sticks somewhere. if they were driving on a real road with other cars, then yea pop him with dui.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    dori fan
    September 11, 2012 3:48 pm
    It says nothing about camping??. You gotta drive the regular roads to leave. As an adult, i would never in a million years operate a vehicle with someone SURFING on top of it. Anyone who has completed the 4th grade understands what can happen. In the state of Washington you are responsible for ALL your actions once behind the wheel....booze is not an excuse.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jstumbo wrote...
    So what happens...
    September 11, 2012 3:49 pm
    if my passenger decides to open the door and jump out while we are going down the freeway? Do I get charged with vehicular homicide?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    JSTUMBO
    September 11, 2012 4:15 pm
    You're kidding right? If that happened you would not be at fault, if i need to explain why, you're an idiot.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Shplunker wrote...
    Who freakin' cares....
    September 11, 2012 7:53 pm
    Just let Darwin do his thing....thinning out the gene pool.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Realitycheck wrote...
    Couldn't agree more
    September 12, 2012 9:41 am
    Best thing that can happen to mankind is to eliminate morons like this and if the do it themselves, even better. No need to charge anybody.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ssbn629g wrote...
    Dori Monson Fan//
    September 12, 2012 6:51 am
    Where does your man Dori weigh in on this? I will bet he doesn't think it is "just boys being boys" Perhaps you need a refresher course in the Dori Monzon school of personal responsibility for consequences of choice and behavior.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • eddiewhite wrote...
    I think that...
    September 12, 2012 7:48 am
    these boys probably learned their lesson.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }