Teenager dies after ATV rolls on road shoulder
A 13-year-old Teslin boy is dead after an all-terrain vehicle roll-over Saturday, police reported today.
A 13-year-old Teslin boy is dead after an all-terrain vehicle roll-over Saturday, police reported today.
At about 8:50 p.m., Teslin RCMP responded to a 911 call involving an ATV near kilometre 1252 of the Alaska Highway, according to police.
An eyewitness told police they saw a side-by-side ATV travelling west on the gravel shoulder parallel to the Alaska Highway when it appeared to crash at approximately 8 p.m.
The witness stopped to see what happened, police said, and found the ATV had rolled.
The driver of the three-seater vehicle, 13-year-old Bradley Robert Anderson, was ejected from the vehicle and struck his head.
Investigators believe he died instantly from a massive head injury, according to Yukon chief coroner Sharon Hanley.
The other two occupants of the ATV, a five-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy, were also injured, according to police.
Emergency Medical Services personnel attended from Teslin and transported the two injured boys to Whitehorse General Hospital, where they were treated and released, according to hospital officials.
Police recovered one helmet, but do not believe the boy who died was wearing any head protection, nor a seat belt.
The three victims had attended a local mountain bike race earlier in the day. They are believed to have been travelling back to the home of the deceased, near the scene of the roll-over, police said today.
Family members were on the scene shortly after the collision.
Investigators have seized the all-terrain vehicle and the investigation is continuing, police said today.
"The RCMP offers its condolences to the family, friends and the community of Teslin for this tragic loss,” Const. Dean Compagna of the Teslin detachment said today.
The boy's body is now with his family and will not be sent out of the territory for an autopsy, Hanley said today.
Comments (13)
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Never surpised on Jul 11, 2011 at 3:50 am
The very day of this accident, between Tagish and Jake's corner I came up behind 3 plated ATVs driving, not in the ditch, not on the shoulder, but in the actual paved lane.
I was traveling at highway speed, pulling a trailer while these 3 potential 'organ donors' were going about 50kphs.
I managed to get around them but with on coming traffic the situation could have been tragic.
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J Henning on Jul 10, 2011 at 1:30 pm
R.I.P Cuz, wish I could'a been there, you'll be forever missed.
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bobby bitman on Jul 9, 2011 at 5:11 am
Every single time a highway is upgraded or built, there should be a parallel 'roadlet' built 20 feet or more off the road, for the use of ATV's, bicycles, dog sleds, skidoos, walkers, runners, skiers and so on. We talk about more active lifestyles and safety, and yet children and others are riding on soft shoulders, with cars whipping by - not just on ATV's but on bicycles and so on as well.
Why is there always money for new and improved highways for trucks and cars, yet nothing for secure, usable trails?
This little guy looked like quite a character from his picture in the celebration of life announcement. Poor kid, and his family. It makes me incredibly sad.
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Azreil Allen on Jul 8, 2011 at 4:09 pm
You will be dearly missed Bradley, I remember playing hockey against you and Geordon. You're with the angels now. I'm praying for your family. It just feels so unreal, when I was told I thought they were joking. I looked into it and it was true. God picks the very best ones, Rest in peace buddy.
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Max Mack on Jul 8, 2011 at 7:21 am
Helmets and seat belts MAY have prevented this death.
However, there are no guarantees -- almost all "recreational" vehicles have a higher risk of injury or death due to the exposed nature of the riders and their passengers (lack of an enclosed canopy) and the nature of recreational vehicle use, with or without seatbelts and helmets.
I feel very badly for the family and friends of this youngster. My heart-felt condolences.
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CG on Jul 7, 2011 at 8:59 am
Mr. Kohler,
So, using your logic, wearing a seatbelt, a helmet, and obeying the laws wouldn't have saved the child (you claim it was your God's will for this child to have died), but riding on pavement would have?
Ridiculous.
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Amber Rudd on Jul 7, 2011 at 1:45 am
Rangers are made for as little as 3 person seating and up to six. They weren't doing anything wrong with having 3 people in it. They just needed helmets and seatbelts.
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Mike Kohler on Jul 6, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Last three commenters: you can regulate, enforce laws, wear helmets and seatbelts and it will make no difference when God decides your time on this earth is over.
That's why this will happen again and again and we should just accept it.
Humans are fragile. You can wear a helmet, bump your head at low speed and still not make it, as a recent motorcycle accident near Braeburn clearly proved.
I probably could support licensing for properly outfitted ATV's and helmet use if we'd get the same rights as other road users. After all we don't force unlicensed bicycle riders to ride on the soft shoulders of our roads, neither should ATVs be forced into this danger zone. So in this sense, and without knowing all the facts, maybe one could say, it would not have happened, if the ATV would have been allowed to travel on the pavement. Just maybe.
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Frank Thomas on Jul 6, 2011 at 9:12 am
This is a terrible tragedy for the Anderson Family and the people in Teslin. Please keep your children safe. I still see young people driving around the community without helmets. What is it going to take to wake some of you people up. Our prayers are with you Bradley.
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sadness on Jul 6, 2011 at 7:35 am
that is so sad, so young and should of been wearing a helmet.why was there 3 people on there? they are not made for 3 people. parents should be held a accountable. keep your community in our prayers
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Joel on Jul 6, 2011 at 1:47 am
Please wear helmets when using recreation vehicles. If there are seatbelts, use them.
Hopefully, this will not happen again.
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Latitude on Jul 5, 2011 at 9:27 am
With regulation and enforcement this tragedy was easily preventable.
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JuneJackson on Jul 5, 2011 at 1:00 am
I am so terribly sorry for all the family and friends.. There is no worse tragedy than losing a child.
My deepest condolence.