After two separate all-terrain vehicle accidents in two days last week, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a warning to be safe this summer.
“I want to remind everyone to be safe. Unfortunately we have had several ATV accidents this year,” Chief Deputy Jamie Singley said. “Please remember to follow manufacturer guidelines. Always wear helmets. ATV are not meant for roadways so please keep them clear from road ways, highways and traffic.”
On May 22 a four-wheeler driven by Randy Merritt with his son, Bradley Merritt, as a passenger collided with a Toyota 4Runner. Both Merritts were airlifted to hospitals and remain in serious condition.
Then on May 23 in Sandy Hook, a 13-year-old-girl was driving an ATV through the trees next to the road when one of her rear tires became flat. The vehicle flipped, and she landed on the asphalt. She was airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center with injuries to her head and body.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2017, an estimated 93,800 ATV related trips to emergency rooms were made, of which 26 percent were children under the age of 16. Head injuries and injuries to the arms are the most common form of injuries with 29 percent being treated for head injuries, 29 percent being treated for injuries to the arm, 21 percent being injuries to the leg, 20 percent being injuries to the torso and the other one percent being other forms of injuries.
In a 35-year period from 1982 to 2017 there were 15,250 ATV-related fatalities, with 3,315 of those being from children under the age of 16, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Mississippi is one of 15 states where driving an ATV on a paved road is illegal.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no child under the age of 16 should drive or ride an ATV regardless of the size, while the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends children ages 12 to 15 not to ride/drive an ATV with engines larger than 90 ccs.
Singley concluded, “We want everyone to be safe and have a great summer.”
Pictured Above: A four-wheeler is seen following a collision with an SUV on May 22 in Foxworth
