Savannah Peterson was struck and killed by a man on a personal watercraft in July 2023 in Mission Bay. The family of a 12-year-old paddle-boarder who was struck and killed last year in Mission Bay by a man operating a rented personal watercraft has filed a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit against the city and county of San Diego and other public entities the family believes are responsible for maintaining the safety of the bay.
The family’s lawsuit, filed late Monday afternoon, claims that the city and its employees, including lifeguards and police officers, knew about the “illegal chartering and use of jet skis on Mission Bay … by untrained, incompetent, dangerous, illegal operators” and yet did nothing to stop it. “Furthermore, at the scene of the collision, the same lifeguard recognized Defendants Ghaly and , realizing with dismay that he had issued a warning to the same individuals just minutes earlier,” the lawsuit alleges. “This realization underscores a critical point: had the lifeguard taken more stringent action following the initial infringement, namely removing Defendants Ghaly and from the waters of De Anza Cove or even Mission Bay, the tragic loss of life could have been averted.
In contrast to rental companies licensed by the city, unlicensed operators aren’t required to explain safety protocols or how to avoid hazards in the bay, and they typically lack the insurance required for licensed operators. San Diego lifeguard Chief James Gartland said last year that people renting from smartphone apps, instead of regulated rental businesses, is