(ELGIN COUNTY, ON) – A nine –year- old male was airlifted to hospital and is currently listed in critical condition after being involved in an ATV collision last evening July 6, 2015.
The collision occurred around 8:36 p.m. on the property of a private residence within the Township of Malahide. A six year old female was operating a 500cc Suzuki ATV with four other male children riding on it. On board was a 2-year-old male, a four-year-old male, the six-year-old female driver as well as two nine-year-old males.
The children, none of which were wearing helmets or other safety gear, had been riding around the back yard while family members were on the other side of the residence at a family function.
Investigation has revealed that at the time of the collision the six year old girl was attempting to turn a corner at the back of the property when she un-intentionally pressed the throttle, lost control and collided with two pine trees. A nine-year-old male struck one of the trees and then became trapped between the ATV and one of the trees. Hearing the collision family members attended and freed the child who was unconscious.
As a result of his injuries the 9-year-old male had to be airlifted to hospital in critical condition. He remains on life support in intensive care. No other children were injured in the collision.
“This is a very tragic example of the dangers of ATV’s. ATV’s are powerful vehicles, not toys for children. ATV’s must be operated by trained and skilled operators. The lack of safety gear (helmets) and the fact that there were five children on board ranging from ages two to nine is a great cause for concern.” – Inspector Brad Fishleigh, Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Detachment Commander.
The Elgin County OPP continues to investigate the collision. Charges are pending
As of the middle of June the OPP had investigated nine fatal Off Road Vehicle (ORV) deaths in Ontario. Investigations into these fatalities revealed that alcohol was involved in five of the incidents, speeding was a factor in three of them and five of the deceased were not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. In two of the crashes a nine year-old who died was the driver of the ORV and in a separate incident, a 17 year-old who died was a passenger.