Missouri Boy Struck, Killed by Pickup Truck While Riding an ATV
On behalf of Brown & Crouppen, P.C. posted in Motor Vehicle Accident on Tuesday, July 26, 2011
An accident between an all-terrain vehicle and a pickup truck on a highway in southeast Missouri resulted in the death of the ATV rider, an 8-year-old boy, the Missouri Highway Patrol said on July 19. The tragic accident is a reminder that state law does not allow those under age 16 to ride ATVs, a trooper said.
Around 1:30 p.m. on July 18, the victim, who lived in Portageville, was riding the ATV on a farm road in New Madrid County, Missouri, near the town of Portageville. He reached the intersection with New Madrid County Road 417 and attempted to turn onto the road. Meanwhile, a 2011 GMC pickup truck driven by a 60-year-old man, also of Portageville, came upon the intersection. The truck struck the ATV, fatally injuring the 8-year-old, who was not wearing a helmet.
The Missouri Highway Patrol trooper said that children riding ATVs is a common sight in rural Missouri. Many people believe that it is relatively safe due to low traffic levels, but the risk of serious accident is still high enough that children should not ride until they turn 16, the trooper said.
People in Portageville were shocked by the news of the fatal accident. The owner of a local convenience store said that he did not want to imagine his own children getting into an accident like that. Another resident said that the boy’s death affected the entire community, which would have to mourn together.
Source: KAIT-TV, “Identity of 8-year-old boy killed in ATV crash released,” July 19, 2011