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SALT LAKE CITY -- It was a tragic weekend for ATV riders throughout Utah. Two people died and two were injured in four ATV accidents. State officials say we'll probably see more as the season continues.
Many of these accidents can be prevented. Safety advocates say you should follow three main guidelines: wear a helmet, know the terrain and be aware of your limits, as well as the machine's.
All it takes is one second. "It'll catch you by surprise a little bit, and that machine can go over very quickly, said Glenn Carpenter, West Desert District Manager for the Bureau of Land Management.
A fatal ATV accident east of Panguitch is one of four crashes in the past two days. Two others occurred in Little Sahara, one of them was deadly, and another injury accident happened in Saratoga Springs earlier Sunday.
Mother's Day turned into a frightening day for a woman riding an ATV south of Saratoga Springs. The Utah County Sheriff's Office says a 50-year-old woman was riding near mile marker 22 on S.R. 68. They say she rolled her vehicle around 10:30 Sunday morning. Deputies didn't know her exact condition, but we know she was flown to a trauma center in Salt Lake with leg and neck injuries. The woman wasn't wearing protective gear.
Around 11:30 Sunday morning, a 32-year-old Cedar City woman was killed while riding her ATV near Panguitch Lake. She has been identified as Juliejo Ann Jackson. The Garfield County Sheriff's Office said she was with her husband turkey hunting on the Copper Peak trail. She was riding on a rough, rocky part of the trail when her husband said she suddenly lost control and the ATV overturned on her.
She was not wearing a helmet and received massive head injuries. Emergency crews were unable to revive her.
Garfield County Sheriff Danny Perkins says "With the ATV season upon us, it is crucial that those who are riding ATVs wear a helmet at all times. The tragedy today at Cooper Peak is a haunting reminder of what can happen when someone does not wear their helmet. We strongly encourage all who enjoy the outdoors in our county on their ATVs to please wear your safety helmet, and also obey all traffic rules."
Garfield County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Becki Bronson said, "On an ATV, it would be unpredictable, highly dangerous road. Some of those ruts are so deep, you can't see them until you're driving right over them."
And in Little Sahara, there were two accidents near Sand Mountain. On Sunday, a 30-year-old Spanish Fork woman was riding a four-wheeler and went too fast over a small sand dune. She broke both legs and had back pain.
In a more serious accident Saturday, 57-year-old Paul Robison of Millard County died. He was riding his ATV through a deep bowl with his wife. Officials say he lost control and was pinned between the ATV and a tree. He died on scene of internal injuries. The Juab County Sheriff's Office said a preliminary report from the Medical Examiner's Office indicated a medical condition may have contributed to his death.
The Bureau of Land Management says that vehicle was not a two-person machine and not designed to go on sand, only for trail riding. Carpenter said, "I think people really need to become familiar with their own capability and that of their machines."
Another tip: before you go on your big trip to the dunes, practice on easier terrain. Experts say riders get rusty in the winter and forget their own capabilities.
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
