Scavenger Hunt Gone Terribly Wrong, Erik Nava, 17, In Critical Condition

Photo: Erik Nava, 17, Chicago Sun Times

Scavenger hunt gone terribly wrong. Especially for Erik Nava. I am appalled to learn about the latest in scavenger hunt techniques. Getting kicked in the groin. The elderly being pelted with muffins and now, a student, who took part in the underground St. Charles North High School seriously injured. He did the unthinkable -- jumping from a moving car. What is wrong with some of our young people today? What were they trying to prove? According to the Chicago Sun Times, all stunts were associated with the scavenger hunt were documented on film with a cash prize at the end. Nava, 17, jumped from the moving SUV to garnet "points for his team."

Erik Nava, of South Elgin, remained hospitalized in serious condition Monday after Friday night's prank. Police believe he jumped from a Dodge Durango moving at 25 mph as part of the game in which as many as 200 students participated. One former St. Charles North student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the scavenger hunt has been a tradition for at least three years.

Students make a list of dares they film for points, then destroy the video after the participants prove they completed the tasks. Some St. Charles students who participated in this year's event said each participant contributed $5. The group that earns the most points wins the cash. The students estimated that Nava's group won first or second place off the four-page list of scavenger hunt activities.

For what? The burning question I have is what was the school administration's role in this mess? Where is the oversight? The students are suddenly free to do as they please and with disastrous results. According to media reports, the stunt that injured Nava was supposed to consist of someone falling out of a car onto the grass. But the students said Nava fell onto gravel instead.

When Kane County Sheriff's Department deputies arrived around 10:20 p.m. Friday, Nava was lying in the middle of Mallard Lake Road near Old Homestead Road, unconscious with a puddle of blood under his head, police said. The police report said he was put on life support when admitted to Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva. Source: Chicago Sun Times

The state's attorney's office has called for a special grand jury to investigate. It will be very interesting to see the outcome of this horrible event. I am not sure what the legal ramifications are because Erik Nava jumped voluntarily from the vehicle. It just points to the deep level of immaturity in many of our teenagers and they would beg to differ. The school needs to discontinue this ridiculous tradition, if there will be no safeguards. No one's life is worth these ridiculous pranks. Is common sense such a scarce commodity?