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PiscesATV Death a Wakeup Call to Moms
A teen's recent death is a harsh reminder that ATVs can be fatal.
A 16-year-old boy died Sunday, a day after he and another teen collided while operating off-road vehicles in Indiana. The two collided as they were both riding up opposite sides of the hill.
Thomas Hayden, 16, and John Kegley, 14, both of Nashville, were airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis Saturday afternoon after the head-on crash, said Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Angela Goldman. Hayden had been riding a Honda CR125 dirt bike and Kegley was operating a Honda Fourtrax 300 ATV. Hayden died Sunday at the hospital. Kegley was transferred to Riley Hospital for Children and was last listed in stable condition.
As riding ATVs has become a popular hobby for kids, the amount of related deaths and injuries is increasing. Over 500 people reportedly died in 2006, and at least 100 of those were children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission believes at least 146,000 other people were treated that year for ATV-related injuries.
Three mothers -- Carolyn Anderson, Sue Rabe and Carol Keezer -- lost children in ATV-related accidents and founded the Concerned Families for ATV Safety organization, a network of parents helping each other cope with ATV-related deaths. They claim over 40,000 families each year have a child who is injured or killed in one of these incidents.
Here are a few of the children who have lost their lives in ATV-related accidents:
Dustin Weber, 16, was killed in July when he lost control of the ATV he was driving in Texas and hit a tree. Dustin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Zachary T. Barker, 15, was an ATV passenger who died in May after a car struck the ATV on a St. Louis road. Zachary was thrown 60 feet and died at the accident scene.
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Shay Christopher Atwood, 10, died in March, after seven months of surgeries and therapy due to an ATV accident he had last August. Shay was driving a three-wheeler near his Michigan home that flipped over. Photo: Muskegan Chronicle |
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Dominique Dezii,13, was killed in April riding in an ATV. The driver of the vehicle ran a red light and then hit an oncoming car on a New Jersey road. Photo: Courier Post Online |
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James Anderson, 14, was killed when he crashed an ATV into a tree on a backwoods trail during a 2004 summer vacation with friends in New Hampshire. His mother Carolyn is one of the founders of the Concerned Families for ATV Safety. Photo: Concerned Families for ATV Safety |
Five Georgia children died in 2003 after a car struck their ATV. Dustin Vernedore, 11, Kayla Vernedore, 13, Lindsay Joiner, 13, Courtney Arsenault, 10, and Coranne Megan Nelson, 14 had piled into the ATV and went for a ride on a winding road during a birthday party.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission provides guidelines for reducing the risks involved with ATVs.
* Take a hands-on safety training course. ATV drivers with formal training have a lower injury risk.
* Always wear protective gear, especially a helmet.
* Do not drive ATVs with a passenger or ride in one as a passenger.
* Do not drive ATVs on paved roads.
* Do not allow children to ride or drive adult ATVs. Kids under 16 on adult ATVs are twice as likely to be injured as children riding in youth ATVs.
* Do not drive ATVs while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Would you let your child ride an ATV?
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- 9 Comments
Ok so, all the kids mentioned above were under the age of 16 except for one. I live in California and theres a sticker that comes on all ATV’s sold here stating that you must be 16 to operate the ATV. I do feel very bad for the families but 10 and 11 year olds shouldn’t be riding them in the first place, and there should only be one person riding at once….NO PASSENGERS!!! I mean come on….how big is the seat, really?!? Quads have alot of power, even more if your going at a high rate of speed. If your child or even an adult you know can’t handle it then they definitely shouldn’t be riding one!!!
I feel terrible for the loss of children due to atv accidents. However, where are the parents? Where are the rules? Children need to be taught about atvs and safety measures required for them.
Both my elementary age girls have a four wheeler designed for their age. Are they ever on them without a parent close by? No. Are they ever on them without a helmet, goggles, and safety gear? No. Do they ever get on the highway or dirt roads? No. Do they go faster than 10 mph? No (atvs have throttles that parents can adjust for speed control). Are they allowed to play with them when other children are around? No. Are they allowed to double up on the atvs? No. We have lots of rules regarding the atvs. We have lots of fun with them as a family, but we do it safely.
I realize that accidents happen everyday. Can I protect my children from being hurt in life? No. Can I do everything in my power to protect them with rules, safety gear, and parental guidence. Absolutely.
I agree with you Carrie, it’s pathetic that parent’s like ame i. would rather see restrictions then step up to the plate and monitor what their child is doing. How hard is it really, ame i.? I mean, are you that lazy that standing outside with your child (who is doing something they enjoy) when they are riding is not an option? So, it’s better to take away everything that could possibly hurt them, and disallow them the opportunity to experience something they may be good at? With that logic, why don’t we go ahead and cancel all softball games, after all - the softball is hard and could kill you, right? Parents need to shut their mouths, and actually be parents to their kids. I guarantee the likelihood of seeing a story about Carrie’s kids being injured on an ATV are much less, and that can be attributed to her being a parent.
I have a family of boys who ride atv’s. I have a 10 year old who would NEVER ride unless we were with him. And, Carrie you are right. The throttles can be adjusted for speed. If you are going to ride atv,of any sort, safety, safety, safety, come first and foremost. Otherwise do not ride!!!!
I don’t remember mentioning sanctioned restricions. I also did not state that I allow my children to run around outdoors without supervision. We all know what making assumptions define us as, don’t we, Jason and Carrie?
If my daughters are in the front yard or in the street, I am there with them, not only to watch out for them, but because I love being outdoors.
There is not a thing my dead friend’s parents could have done to keep the 4 wheeler she was riding from flipping over on top of her and snapping her neck.
A nine-year-old girl here in Arizona was killed a few days ago when the ATV she was on - driven by her 11-year-old-sister - flipped over. What are parents thinking, letting children drive these things? Apparently there are no laws about these things in my state, which shocks me. We wouldn’t let children drive cars on paved roads, so why are they allowed to drive ATVs on rough terrain?
I agree with Carrie and Jason. I refuse to let my children live in a box. Risks are what life is all about. To me, taking no risks in life is not living at all. Educate your children and take every safety precaution possible but do not confine them to a life of “No this” and “No that”! I am a behavior specialist, if you think you are helping your children by not allowing them to do all things dangerous you are sadly wrong. Statistically more children are injured or killed when trying something with their friends when the parents were not around to supervise. If your child shows an interest in riding an ATV and you restrict such interest they will have the opportunity sooner or later. Instead, educate them on the dangers and safety requirements if you want to protect them. We are supposed to teach our children and guide them through life, not tell them how to live.
sv7SsR comment3 ,
I won’t even buy my daughters one of those very low-speed scooters that is popular with kids these days. I was surprised when my 9 year old’s friend got one for her birthday.
My brother & I had a go-cart when he was 9 and I was 12. We lived in the country & were only allowed to putter around in our yard.
When I was 15 & riding on the back of a 4 wheeler driven by my friend, she hit a tree. We both fell off & my chin scraped along a gravel road,resulting in stitches. She banged up one of her knees pretty good.
A good friend of mine died when the 4-wheeler she was riding rolled over on her.
I don’t think ATV’s are a good idea for anyone who is not military personnel and using them because they have to.