Good-Hearted Teen’s Trip Ends in Death

PHILADELPHIA (CN) - A teen-ager on a trip to Mexico to help underprivileged children fell 500 feet down an abandoned mineshaft, and his family demands damages from the trip's organizers, Travel for Teens and Casa de los Angeles.

Taylor Patterson Crane died in July 2007 during a trip to Cinco Senores Mines in Pozos, Mexico, where he had gone to work with unprivileged children, his family says. Crane fell into an allegedly unmarked mineshaft during a game of tag.

According to the federal complaint, the teen was under the supervision of Wayne, Pa.-based Travel for Teens and Homer Glen, Ill.-based Casa de los Angeles. Both organizations regularly arrange trips for American teens to Mexico.

Neither of the organizations had sent anyone to inspect the area before sending a group of 30 American teens and 80 Mexican children on a trip to the mines, according to the complaint.

The Crane family seeks damages for negligence and wrongful death. They are represented by Thomas Kline.

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit