Where is the common sense
 

Sad story. They were the sons of the trucker. One of 3 sons jumped clear and lived. That driver may never drive again... for more than one reason.

"Police Officer Cleon Joseph says the victims were riding on the back of a moving tractor-trailer late Sunday morning when they fell off and were struck."

Brilliant!

That goes far beyond BRILLIANT.
On the move?
What made them jump?
For that matter, what possessed him to allow them to ride back there in the first place?

From what I could tell, Windy, (and some of this is extrapolation,) they were only on the back of the truck as it moved a SHORT distance towards the wash bay. Apparently, as he let out the clutch.... being bobtailed.... the truck "lurched" throwing the boys off. One was able to JUMP as he was thrown about, the other two must have fallen under the wheels somehow. They may not have been holding on too well, as they knew he wouldn't be moving fast. But, we've all lurched a bobtail when we're used to pulling a trailer!

Did you watch the news video on the site referenced above? That is where I got the additional info.

They still have ABSOLUTELY NO BUSINESS riding on the back of that truck at that age. Not a good idea to allow them to climb around on the back when it's parked and the engine not running. But, they are not old enough to understand the hazards while the truck is moving.

I didn't let my kids ride the back of a pickup when they were growing up on the farm in Wisconsin. My youngest son was 19 when he was helping a neighbor making hay. Riding out into the field on the back of a farm tractor, pulling an empty hay wagon, he fell off and got his leg run over by the wagon. It wasn't a lurch. It was a bump that made him lose his footing.

There's more on the back of a farm tractor for a kid to hold onto than on the back of a semi. The kids on the back may have had more common sense than the driver.