Teen Dies After Falling Off Moving Jeep

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. - A teenager died after falling from the hood of a moving vehicle. Alex DeSalis, 16, fell off that vehicle on Ferguson Place in Paulding County Saturday afternoon. He was rushed to the hospital where he died the next day.

His parents said the North Paulding High School student was walking down the road with friends, when another friend drove by in her jeep. State Troopers said that's when he got on the vehicle. According to the Georgia State Patrol, “The male 16-year old climbed onto the hood of jeep and was on all fours, while traveling down the road he fell off and rolled up under the jeep.”

Michelle Guthrie said her son was always happy and joking around. “Alex was the ray of sunshine that if he saw someone upset it was his mission to make them feel awesome.”

Guthrie said she wants the girl who was driving the jeep to know she doesn't blame her. “I need to hug her and tell her it's okay, I don't want her going to jail, I don't want her on probation, it was an accident,” said Guthrie.

Alex's family says he wasn't car surfing or doing anything extremely dangerous. They believe he was just joking around when he climbed on the hood. They say they want their son's death to be a warning to others. “If there's the potential for somebody to get hurt or it seems a daredevil type act, then it can go from fun to dead, and that's the lesson here,” said Ken Guthrie.

Authorities said charges are pending against the driver. Alex's parents say they don't want her charged. They say another life shouldn't be ruined because of this tragedy.