Florida Teen Killed In Tragic Accident After Truck Dragged Inner Tube From Water Onto Parking Lot

An 18-year-old boy had a tragic death in a tubing accident after his raft was pulled by a pickup truck from the water and into a parking lot.

Christian Garner was reportedly killed instantly in the rafting accident that took place at Maritime Park, near the Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, Florida on Saturday, April 30, according to reports.

Garner had been riding a raft that was attached to a pick-up truck in the nearby parking lot. For some unknown reasons the driver accelerated the vehicle, causing the raft to lunge out of the pond and up onto the bank between the water and lot, Pensacola Police Department Public Information Officer Mike Wood told People.

The teen ended up landing in the parking lot, where he instantly died, Wood said.

"It was certainly … unfortunate," said Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson. "That’s why we ask you at any of our events, any of our parks — we ask you to use them appropriately the way they’re designed, so we don’t have accidents like we had this weekend."

"I don’t think in a million years we ever anticipated the pond would be used for something like that," Robinson said.

The truck driver was taken into police custody on Sunday, according to reports.

On Wednesday night, Pensacola Police announced that the driver will be charged with negligent manslaughter. The driver’s identity has not been revealed by the police.

"Christian was my baby boy," Garner’s mother, Cicilia told WEAR-TV. "He was such a mama's boy growing up. He loved working on cars, and he just started a new four-wheeler project. He loved to fish. He really loved his family, and we all love him so much. He was the best brother ever. My other two kids just lost their best friend."

Garner’s brother Joshua wrote a statement on Facebook about his brother’s death.

"As for people who don’t know my little brother christian has died in a tragic car accident," it read.

"Please keep my family in your prayers as for this is a very hard time for us right now. rest in peace chris you were so loved by mom, sister, and me."