Family of girl hit by lifeguard on a Jet Ski sues city for negligence
By David Garrick / The San Diego Union-Tribune / December 30, 2024
Controversy continues to grow over the use of devices commonly known by the brand name Jet Ski at San Diego’s beaches and bays.
Amid an ongoing crackdown by San Diego lifeguards on unlicensed rentals of the devices on Mission Bay, a family is turning the tables by blaming a city lifeguard for running over their daughter in La Jolla Cove with a Jet Ski.
The family of Ali Polidori says city lifeguards are being hypocritical when they continually blame the problem on illegal rental companies failing to provide users safety instructions.
In a new lawsuit, the family says lifeguards themselves are a key part of the problem based on the behavior of one guard in December 2023 who ripped open their daughter’s head while going more than 20 mph on a Jet Ski. The lifeguard zipped across La Jolla Cove’s swimming area much faster than normal because she was responding to an emergency call of another swimmer in distress, according to a 30-page police report on the incident.
The lawsuit, filed in July, says the lifeguard was traveling at an unreasonable and dangerous speed and not exercising due caution, especially in an area where all vessels are banned except if driven by lifeguards.
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