On July 11 our son, Jason, was tragically killed in an ATV accident. Less than 10 hours later, a representative from Channel 7 called our home to request a picture for the news segment. This woman was rude and disrespectful to Jason’s aunt when she refused to supply a photograph.

We wonder where common decency and respect were when Channel 7 made the decision to invade our home in a time of such grief for our family. We would hope that in the future, Channel 7 would show compassion for families in similar situations and allow others a right to the privacy so necessary to grieving families mourning the loss of a loved one.

We would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to members of the Hampden Rescue Squad and the doctors, nurses and staff of St. Joseph Hospital’s emergency room for working so hard to try to save our son. Special thanks to Sister Mary Edmund for her compassion and care then, since and now.

Thanks also to WTOS for their moving dedication to Jason on July 14. It brought great comfort to Jason’s many friends.

To all the young people using these machines: please, please be careful! Don’t take the chance of putting your family and friends through this heartache. We don’t need another needless tragedy like this one. The parents, sister, family and friends of the late Jason Michael Cote Winterport