It seems like this has been a big year for ATV accidents and tragedies.
Despite continued warnings about the dangers of ATVs and reports of severe injuries and deaths and new ATV safety laws, we continue to hear about ATV tragedies.
The latest is a 16-year-old who died on Thanksgiving Day in Caswell County, North Carolina. He was riding with a 14-year-old passenger when their ATV rolled over while they were turning in an open field.
Also on Thanksgiving Day, an 8-year-old passenger on an ATV was seriously injured in Coffee County, Alabama. She was transported by a helicopter to a hospital in Birmingham. After the accident, her mother described her as having a partially collapsed lung, two chest tubes, a few fractures in her hip, a badly bruised ankle, and she was on a ventilator. Hopefully she will recover soon and get back to collecting soda can tabs with her Girl Scout troop to benefit the Ronald McDonald House charities.
And just before Thanksgiving, a 12-year-old in South Carolina was knocked unconscious and taken to the hospital following an ATV accident and a 12-year-old in Westby, Wisconsin died when the ATV he was riding on with a 14-year-old family member hit a tree.
ATV accidents and tragedies clearly aren't rare. Keep that in mind when you do your Christmas shopping, especially if you are considering buying an ATV for your kids. There is a good reason that ATVs should be at the top of your Don't Buy Gift List, especially if you have kids.
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Excellent article! I only hope thousands will listen to the great advise. ATV’s and Children under 16 don’t mix. Keep your children off all ATV’s! You don’t get second chances so do it right the first and just say NO!
My youngest daughter died while riding our four wheeler in an open field here in La. Cause of death was from a traumatic head injury. We NEVER thought anything like this would happen to us, as I am sure a lot of parents think that. This is an excellent article, since her death I have come in contact with parents who have also lost their children due to 4-wheeler accidents. So no, it is not as rare as one would think. I do hope parents heed this warning, it is not a toy. If I could trade places with her, I would do it in a heartbeat.
R.I.P Lizzy
8/14/96-2/25/07
I am very sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your story. Hopefully it will help other parents realize how dangerous ATVs are for kids and that they should be avoided.
Reading this made me cry. I was just a month off buying a 4 wheeler for my sons 8th birthday. We will be buying something else.
thank you