A family in Randolph County, North Carolina (NC), is mourning the loss of a 4-year-old girl after the all-terrain vehicle she was riding overturned. Investigators say the child, two adults and two other youngsters were on the ATV when it wrecked.
The vehicle flipped when the driver attempted to cross a steep embankment. The girl sustained serious injuries in the crash and was taken to a local hospital, where she was shortly pronounced dead.
None of the others involved in the wreck were injured. Authorities report that alcohol, carelessness nor speed played a role in this crash. This tragedy just goes to show how unsafe all-terrain vehicles can be, especially when they are used incorrectly. Details about the type of ATV involved in the crash were not released, but most of these vehicles were not meant to hold six people. Even if the children were small, there were clearly too many people riding on the ATV.
ATV accidents resulted in 10,281 deaths between 1982 and 2009, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Children younger than 16 years of age accounted for 26 percent of those fatalities. Crashes involving all-terrain vehicles are similar to those involving motorcycle accidents; one error leaves a rider’s entire body exposed and endangered.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an ATV accident, consider consulting with one of our North Carolina accident attorneys. Also, take a look at our article regarding ATV safety and the dangers associated with rollovers.
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