On October 2, 2023, in Hampton, Virginia, an eight-year-old boy was involved in a fatal incident as he “car surfed” atop a moving 2006 Ford Explorer.
The vehicle was being driven by his 18-year-old sister, Enashia Futrell. According to security camera footage reviewed by the Hampton police, the boy climbed out of the car window, proceeded to the roof, and mimicked surfing for approximately 1,000 feet.
The young boy was thrown from the vehicle during the act and was discovered unresponsive on the roadway. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital, and despite medical intervention, he died two days after the incident.
Futrell, the boy’s sister, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment following the incident. In her defense, Futrell told the authorities that she was unaware of her brother’s actions, suggesting she had no idea he had climbed out of the vehicle. However, security footage obtained by the police paints a different picture, showing both the boy and another child hanging unrestrained out of the vehicle’s windows before the incident.
Futrell confessed that she had been driving over the 10-mph speed limit set in the apartment complex on Golden Gate Drive. Additionally, she admitted being distracted while driving, raising more concerns about the safety precautions observed that day.
Residents of the apartment complex expressed their shock at the devastating event.
Compounding the seriousness of the situation, the vehicle had another child in the front passenger seat when the ill-fated incident began. Futrell’s mother had shared with the police that her daughter often took on the role of caretaker for the children after school when she wasn’t available.
Enashia Futrell’s bond has been set at $10,000 as legal proceedings continue. She’s also received a strict order barring her from operating any vehicle.