Horrible ATV Accident in Ft Myers

[Joedirt]

This is horrible, too young...It chokes me up to think about it.

[yunt2ride]

Sorry to hear about this and the loss of a child. Prayer go out to both families. It reminds me of my son this past weekend riding my quad and showing out a little. I run him down and made him walk back to camp and made him set out for a little while. He was just being stupid and did not realize it until I got onto him about it. We were riding by ourselves with noone else around but he still could have messed up. He knows that dad will get onto him if he drives that way but kids will be kids and just not think about the consequences until someone speaks to them about it or until someone gets hurt. Ride safe

[jujulo700R]

I just don't understad why people don't ride with helmets either! I always wear a helmet whether it be on a street bike or on my atv. To be truthful I would probably wear it in my car if it didn't make my blind spots more difficult to see. Once you start wearing protective gear it becomes second nature and you feel naked if you don't have it on. My heart goes out to the families indeed and it is very hard to read what happened. I went out to Croom Saturday and I ended up leaving early because of all the people racing around me. I always go really early around 7:00 am just avoid being around other people. Incidents like this are just plain sad.

[tony pitts]

its the same all over me my wife and my son stopped by rodman damn sat to check out the hew trail system and there was a group of teenagers all riding the same quad no gear or any kind of self discipline. there are thousands of acres to ride and all they could do was ride up and down the parking area doing donuts and throwing dust everywhere. I am glad i dont normally ride there.

[Sloth]

Very sad to hear this.

[450R_Matt]

its the same all over me my wife and my son stopped by rodman damn sat to check out the hew trail system and there was a group of teenagers all riding the same quad no gear or any kind of self discipline. there are thousands of acres to ride and all they could do was ride up and down the parking area doing donuts and throwing dust everywhere. I am glad i dont normally ride there.

You should have stoped them and slaped them in the face. When they asked what that was for you just tell them you were saving there life...

[Scramdaddy]

I feel sick hearing about it. My prayers go to the families. My Son is 17 and this hits home for sure.

[ebtrx450r]

Sorry to hear about the tragedy! My thoughts and prayers are with the families.

[cubnfrank]

This is awfull tragedy, Im very sorry for the parents. I read this last night and thought about it all day before I could post. I ride with my 8 y/o and it scares me to death going to places like croom or anywhere there is alot riders. I often think about the dangers of this sport. Between the trees and crashes I don't know. Sometimes I could do without my atv when I hear of thing like this. 

[swampbuggy]

The FT.Myers News Press is saying this accident was on private land owned by the South Fl. Water Management District.  Can anyone clear this up?

[PLEDGER#76]

If it is the place im thinking of off of H.W.82 right across the street from Blackstone, if you go to the back A little ways it becomes SFWM property, I was a little confused also, hope this help out...

[Thrumud]

Yes, it's SFWM land.

[swampbuggy]

thanks for the info.  Guaranteed they will have enforcement out next weekend.

[trx250kid]

man that must stinks i feel bad for the families but how did they crash in a open area

[Sleazy_Rider78]

Reading this story caused chills to run down my spine.  I can't imagine the grief this family must be going through right now.  I will pray for the family.

[rednipj]

Here's the article from the News-press.

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061017/NEWS0103/61017002/1075

Also please post in the forums show some support for the OHV riders. There are a couple of old bags starting the 'atv are a hazard to the enviroment' thread.

http://www.news-press.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6467

[cheropride]

I was there with the father holding his son's body just after the impact. He died of massive internal injuries.  Medics say not even a helmet would have saved his life. It broke me down to tears to see the mom and dad next to their son's body and yelling to God not to take him. I arrived at the hospital and the scene was more intense. 

His name was Kyle, he will be missed.

My gosh Thrumud, just reading your account of what happen is heart-renching.  Being a parent myself, I would of lost it.  This most of seriously affected you as well, what a horrible image that must of been for you to witness.  I can't even begin to imagine what those parents are going through.

You know when I hear of things like this, it scares the hell out of me.  For my son rides, and though he is a very good rider, and we are always with him of course, it scares you to think of the other idiots out there.  This is one of the reasons we purchased land, where we ride, it's big enough not to get crazy.  But it only takes one person to hurt someone.  I really believe in the case, all the protective gear in the world, wouldn't of protected this kid.  I will be sure to share this story with my son, it's important that they learn and continue to be reminded of the dangers of our hobby and that we must always be cautious, and not only worry about how we are riding, but paying attention to the area and people riding around us.


Wow, still can't believe how tragic......

[ScooterB]

I cannot imagine how these parents feel. I know when I ride with my son he has all the safety equipment needed, but that will not keep him from being injured by another rider.

I agree that the the state and or counties need to provide a safer enviroment for OHV recreation and safety training, but the ultimate responsibility falls upon the parents to insure that our children are on the proper size ATV and are trained how to ride and operate it safely.

As for 2 way trails they scare the he!! out of me,  I was thinking about this on sunday while riding back to camp at the end of the day on the last tight trails with lots of blind corners, just after 2 sport quads came blazing thru.
This is why I have chosen to ride early or late to aviod the big crowds.

My thoughts and prayers go out to both families.

[rednipj]

Here's a related article from the NBC-2 website talking about an ATV training center. They even make house calls.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=9322&z=3&p=

[stacktester]

Unfortunately these things happen and it's even tougher to accept when you throw in the coulda woulda shoulda's. I have a 9 y/o daughter who rides her new 125 Grizzly with me and I make her wear her chest protector and helmet no matter if we're going on a day ride or for 5 minutes.

This accident made news in the Jacksonville paper and news channels.

As for the riders doing that crap at Rodman, that's just the norm. Everytime I go to ONF I see some punks throwing sand and riding wreckless. All I can say is, if some punk a$$ hurts me or my daughter because they're being wreckless I'm going to beat them to sleep right on the spot. I'm sick of idiots ruining our sport when most of us are out there riding safely. It's pathetic to see these kids riding in parking areas and trails like they're the only riders around. Go out in the middle of Rodman Pit and just knock yourself out. At least people have a chance to get away from you.

I'm not bashing this rider in any way so don't take it that way. It's too late to say he should've been wearing a helmet. All I can say now is please ride safe and to your ability. Learn from this. My prayers go to this kid's family and for the other boy who was injured.

[Fox17]

I just don't understad why people don't ride with helmets either! I always wear a helmet whether it be on a street bike or on my atv. To be truthful I would probably wear it in my car if it didn't make my blind spots more difficult to see. Once you start wearing protective gear it becomes second nature and you feel naked if you don't have it on. My heart goes out to the families indeed and it is very hard to read what happened. I went out to Croom Saturday and I ended up leaving early because of all the people racing around me. I always go really early around 7:00 am just avoid being around other people. Incidents like this are just plain sad.

same here. i used to wear a chest protector on my dirt bike and now people ask me y i wear one on a quad but i cant ride without one. im so used to it. after bout 3 or 4 times wearin something like that it is just a habbit. i have to wear all my gear or i feel weird when im ridin.

[Honda328i]

Very Tragic about this situation, the family is in my prayers.

While I fully agree about wearing a helmet, that is not enough. 

I can't believe I saw this, but at Durhamtown this weekend, we saw a mom riding double with an INFANT!  This was not at the campground, but way into the park by MX track #3.  The infant was wearing a helmet stuck on his head, but not secure because it was twice the size of his head.  What can you say about stupid people??  GEEEZ.

[Thrumud]

Ride safe

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