Skateboarding Accident Kills 19-Year-Old in Orange County

Phillip Panetta died doing something he loved: “downhilling” on his longboard skateboard.

The 19-year-old was zooming down a steep hill on Jeronimo Road early Saturday morning with some friends when he hit a raised lane marker in the middle of the street, lost his balance and fell. He was not wearing a helmet and suffered massive head injuries, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

“He was a great kid,” his mother, Barbara Chiulli, said tearfully. “You don’t expect a child to die before you. He was well-loved. He was a good friend, always willing to help another in trouble.”

The accident occurred at 1:25 a.m. between Arbolitos and Silleros in Mission Viejo. Panetta and two friends had gone there to skateboard after attending a Rancho Santa Margarita High football game.

Panetta graduated from Rancho Santa Margarita in June and was hoping to attend cooking school in San Francisco. He had worked for a month as a host and busboy at Peppino’s, an Italian restaurant in Mission Viejo.

Mike Panetta, the victim’s 15-year-old brother, said his brother had taken up longboarding six months ago.

Longboard skateboarding has surged in popularity in recent years. Skaters seek out hilly roads and parking structures where they can ride the three- to five-foot wooden planks with wheels.

At Surfside Sport in Newport Beach, more than half of the skateboards sold are longboards, said assistant manager Jeff Caselman. Unfortunately, many who purchase the boards do not buy the helmets, wrist guards, kneepads and elbow pads, Caselman said.

Barbara Chiulli said she hopes some good will come from her son’s death. “The important thing [to learn] here is for kids to wear helmets.”