Perth Amboy sued by family of teen who drowned on city's waterfront
PERTH AMBOY – The family of a 17-year-old boy who drowned two years ago along the city's waterfront filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, Middlesex County and various city departments and agencies.
The lawsuit was filed July 7 by Perth Amboy-based attorney Karim Arzadi on behalf of Theresa Vazquez, mother of John Robert Vazquez, known as "John John," who drowned in July 2020.
The lawsuit, also filed on behalf of the teen's father, Rolando Vazquez, and siblings, Maria Vazquez and Rolando Vazquez Jr., names the city, county, New Jersey, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone and Business Improvement District, Office of Economic and Community Development, and Perth Amboy Harborside Marina among the defendants. The lawsuit indicates a notice of claim was filed in October 2020.
The lawsuit claims the teen's death was the direct result of negligence of the actions or inactions of the defendants in failing to adequately maintain guard and supervision of the city waterfront and the water. The lawsuit also states the defendants had a duty to provide safe and proper supervision of people using the water to prevent injuries and prevent people from swimming in the water, which has a strong current.
The lawsuit charges the city was aware of the dangerous conditions of the water and knew they presented a foreseeable risk to the kind of injuries Vazquez suffered and could have taken measures to protect against the water conditions and Vazquez’ drowning.
Vazquez was autistic and had epilepsy, and the lawsuit says his mentality was of a much younger child than his age.
Around 2:30 p.m. July 9, 2020, Perth Amboy police and firefighters were dispatched on a report of a person drowning in the Raritan Bay near Water and Lewis streets.
Vazquez' father has said another person allegedly bet his son money he couldn't swim out to a boat and back. He said his son was not a strong swimmer and had been warned to stay away from the person who allegedly made the bet.
When emergency personnel arrived, one man who had tried to help the teen was out of the water. An extensive search effort was conducted. After two hours, the teen was located, CPR was immediately initiated, and he was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest and later died.
More than $17,000 was raised in a social medial campaign for the teen's funeral expenses.
The lawsuit states the teen was mentally incapable of comprehending the danger, including the risk of drowning, serious injury or death, from swimming in the water along the city's waterfront.
The lawsuit also charges the defendants knew prior to Vazquez’ death that children and others swam in the Perth Amboy waters along the river and bay and the defendants had a duty to protect children, and people with diminished mental capacity, from the hazardous conditions of the water.
According to the lawsuit, the Perth Amboy waterfront was "unreasonably and inexcusably inadequately fenced and was exposed, unattended and unguarded and had no warning signs advising persons not to swim there so that minors including John Vazquez, with their natural curiosity and inquisitiveness would be attracted to the Perth Amboy waterfront and adjacent waters."
Following Vazquez’ death, friends set up a Facebook page warning of the danger of dares, bets and challenges.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Perth Amboy sued by family of teen who drowned on waterfront
