LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Kentucky officials said Tuesday a university student died after falling off a car as he was trying to "surf."

Benjamin Watson, 19, fell from a car Saturday night and hit his head, according to a Jefferson County deputy coroner.

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Video: Grieving Father Reacts To Son's Death

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Witnesses said Watson was on top of the car heading south on Stonehurst Drive in Louisville when he noticed a police car approaching. He tried to jump off, but hit his head on the ground. Watson cracked his skull and injured his lungs, reported WLKY-TV in Louisville.

EMTs rushed Watson to University Hospital after the accident, and although doctors saw positive signs on Sunday morning, the teen eventually succumbed to his injuries. Now, his family hopes his death was not in vain.

"He was car surfing, and we said, 'How could you be so stupid?'" Ben's father, Jim Watson, said to his son's friends.

But then the victim's father reminded himself that his son, like his friends, was only 19. And life was sometimes boring to the math whiz. After a 4.0 semester at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky., he was thinking about attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He even debated trying out for the trivia show "College Jeopardy."

"All those times we've said, 'In an instant, your life changes,'" said Jim Watson. "This was our instant."

Jim Watson said his son was with friends and that he doesn't hold anyone responsible. The father called his son "a great kid" and said he "was starting to mature."

"My last memory was holding his hand and it was so warm," Jim Watson said. "And my wife said, 'I'll never see his face again. I will not be able to hold his beautiful face or touch his beautiful skin.'"

Jim Watson has encountered a range of emotions in recent days. But despite the tragedy, he repeatedly expressed the joy of having nearly 20 years with his son. Still, he said it's difficult knowing his son has been quickly taken away from him.

"Some people say they have a hole in their heart," he said. "I have a hurt in my heart that will never go away. It was the worst day of my life. It will never be that bad again, ever."

Ben Watson is the second teen reported killed in a "car surfing" accident in the United States in recent days. Another 19-year-old was killed July 5 when he fell from the top of a Land Rover in Sheboygan, Wis. One of that man's friends was charged with reckless homicide.